KUALA LUMPUR – Former Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) manager Y. Kohila says her victory in her suit against the central bank over her unlawful termination symbolises that workers cannot be bullied and arbitrarily sacked.
Speaking to reporters after the court’s decision today, Kohila said the “sweet” justice served was a win for workers.
“I know the establishment is cruel, but finally, (there is justice). It is the sweetest thing ever… it is the day of justice for the worker,” she said, while thanking her lawyers and supporters.
“This means people cannot just sack you the way they want, and they cannot infringe on your constitutional rights.
“That is the most important thing the court has told us today. You cannot infringe on the workers’ rights and sack anybody – for any reason – and you cannot bully us all the way.”
She also reminisced about her sadness and embarrassment during her final day working at BNM, marking it as her final day stepping foot there.
Kohila – who was previously BNM’s museum, art gallery and knowledge management centre manager – had her role terminated in July 2017, over her activism with Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM).
This came after Kohila was found guilty of three counts of misconduct by a BNM panel, following a domestic inquiry in May and June 2017.
During the proceedings today, high court judge Datuk Ahmad Bache ruled that Kohila’s termination was unlawful, as she was put in a disadvantaged position during her domestic inquiry.
He ruled that she was denied the right to acquire several pertinent documents for her domestic inquiry with BNM, besides being denied her request for external lawyers and witnesses to testify in her proceedings, as well as provide witness statements.
Also present during the proceedings today to support Kohila were fellow PSM members, including party deputy chairman S. Arutchelvan and secretary-general A. Sivarajan.
Speaking on behalf of PSM, Arutchelvan expressed happiness that “justice was finally served”, as external witnesses and lawyers were never allowed in domestic inquiries in the past.
“What the judge said today, (is that) the whole question about the nature of justice is the constitutional right to be heard,” he said.
“We always say that any worker who has just resigned or been terminated will not fight back (under the presumption that they would lose). But, the only way is to fight back.”
However, Arutchelvan admitted that battling BNM would not be an easy feat as their victory was only at the high court level, but hoped that the legal fraternity believed in justice. – March 29, 2024