AWARD

Augustine Anthony:

The Reference

[1] This is a reference dated 9 July 2024 by the Director General of the Department of Industrial Relations, Ministry of Human Resources pursuant to s 20(3) of the Industrial Relations Act 1967 ("The Act") arising out of the alleged dismissal of ZURINA BINTI OTHMAN (Claimant) by BANK PERTANIAN MALAYSIA BERHAD (Bank) on 6 January 2024.

[2] Pursuant to the directions of this court, the parties in this matter filed their respective submissions dated 4 August 2025 (Claimant's written submissions), 4 August 2025 (Bank's written submissions), 2 September 2025 (Claimant's written submissions in reply) and 2 September 2025 (Bank's written submissions in reply).

[3] This court considered all the notes of proceedings in this matter, documents and cause papers in handing down this Award namely:

(i) The Claimant's Statement of Case dated 5 September 2024;

(ii) The Bank's Statement in Reply dated 26 September 2024;

(iii) The Claimant's Rejoinder dated 10 October 2024;

(iv) The Claimant's Bundle of Documents — CLB1 and CLB2;

(v) The Bank's Bundle of Documents — COB1 and COB2;

(vi) The Claimant's Witness Statement — CLW — WS (Puan Zurina Binti Othman); and

(vii) The Ban