Malaysia frees unionists

Press, 20 April 1979, Page 5

Malaysia frees unionists

NZPA-Reuter Kuala Lumpur 1 I The Malaysian Govern- s ment has announced the re- j lease of four officials of the 1 disbanded Airline Employ- 1 ees* Union and said nine others detained with them ! under emergency internal security laws! might also be ’ released soon. The announcement by the Home Minister (Tan Sri Ghazali Shafie) at a press I conference was regarded as . a gesture of conciliation towards the London-based International Transport i Workers’ Federation which has demanded the release of: all trade unionists detained in connection with a pay dispute between the airline! union and the Malaysian! Airline System. Tan Sri Ghazali said hen

had been appointed by the Government as the “troubleshooter” to sort out the problems faced by M.A.S. “J think the matter will be past history soon,” he said. The Government detained 22 union officials and the International Transport Workers’ Federation Asian representative, Donald Uren, last February when industrial action by union members grounded temporarily all M.A.S. international and domestic flights. Nine of the detainees were released last week-end and Mr Uren was freed two days [ago. But the Government I also disbanded the union. On his release, Mr Uren ’ apologised for his role in es- ‘ calating the pay dispute on ! an international scale and

called on the Government and the I.T.F, to reach an understanding. M.A.S. flights to Australia were halted last month because of a boycott by I.T.F. affiliates there. And the airline also suspended its service to London for fear of similar action in Britain.

Asked whether the Government had an understanding with Mr Uren to ask the I.T.F. to lift the boycott of M.A.S. aircraft, Tan Sri Ghazali said the Government trusted Mr Uren’s judgment as a man of responsibility. He said the union could appeal against the dissolution order within the next three weeks or M.A.S. workers could form a new union without Government interference.