Ex-VP of GLC awarded RM1.3mil for wrongful dismissal
The Kuala Lumpur Industrial Court awarded RM1.3 million to Syed Agil Syed Hashim for wrongful dismissal by Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation. (Facebook pic)
PETALING JAYA : A government-linked company has been ordered by the Kuala Lumpur Industrial Court to pay RM1.3 million in compensation to its former vice-president for wrongful dismissal.
The Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation Sdn Bhd is the government's lead development agency for the bio-based industry in Malaysia.
Its termination of claimant Syed Agil Syed Hashim's employment was initially upheld by another industrial court in 2023.
However, the Kuala Lumpur High Court quashed that award in January and ordered that a new chairman preside over the case for the sole purpose of determining the quantum of compensation payable.
Court chairman Pravin Kaur Jessy, who took over the case, noted that the High Court had in its ruling made a finding that the claimant was dismissed without just cause of excuse in 2020, after 14 years of service.
Syed Agil, who started his job in 2006 with a basic salary of RM14,000 a month, was earning RM39,600 when asked to leave in 2020.
'By virtue of this finding, it necessarily follows that the claimant's employment was not on a fixed-term basis but was permanent in nature.
'This court therefore accepts that the claimant was in continuous and permanent employment for a period of 14 years, until his dismissal on September 30, 2020,' Pravin said in the award handed down on June 19.
She also noted that her sole task, as ordered by the High Court, was to assess the appropriate compensation payable in lieu of reinstatement and back wages.
Pravin said the claimant was entitled to 14 months' wages as compensation in lieu amounting to RM554,400, based on his final drawn basic salary.
For back wages, she awarded 24 months' salary, amounting to RM760,320, after a 20% deduction for post-dismissal earnings. The total award comes to RM1,314,720.
She also ordered the company to settle all statutory contributions to the relevant authorities within 30 days of the award.
Nur Zur'Ain Mat Ramlee appeared for the claimant, while Abdul Aziz Hamzah represented the company.
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