Tan Sri Azman Shah Dato’ Seri Haron was elected as President of the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) at the MEF Council Meeting held after the Federation’s Annual General Meeting 2014 at the Holiday Villa Hotel in Subang Jaya today. He continues to lead the 5,000-member strong apex employers’ body that he had led since 2008.

 

At the AGM, the 12 elected council members representing Ordinary Members for the 2014 - 2016 were A. Ramadass, Abdul Wahab Abu Bakar, Dato’ Abdul Aziz Abu Bakar, Mohammed Amin Aziz, Dato’ J. Palaniappan, Lokman Baharuddin, R. Usha Devi, Razali Dato’ Rahmat, Lt. Kol Dr Sam Quah Sin Chye, Dato’ Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman, and Zulkifly Abdul Rahman.

 

The association members were Dr. Michael Chiam Tow Hui of the Commercial Employers Association of Malaysia (CEAPM), Tan Sri Mohd Noor Ismail and Mohamad Audong of the Malaysian Agricultural Producers Association (MAPA), Ng Beh Tong of the Malaysian Chamber of Mines (MCM), John Chua Kheng Chiew of the Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Razali Kipli of the Association of Insurance Employers (AIE), Christopher Raj of the Association of Hotel Employers (AHE), Nora Abdul Manaf of the Malayan Commercial Banks’ Association (MCBA); Alan Khoo Choom Kwong of the Sabah Employers Consultative Association (SECA), Peggy Chew Being Being of the Sarawak Timber Association (STA).

 

Earlier at the AGM, the President said that the MEF had succeeded in helping to further the development of human capital and business in Malaysia.

 

“We will continue to highlight employers’ views on issues in the areas of human resource development and industrial relations, and in recent times, our concerns on the escalating cost of doing business,” said Azman, who is also Chairman of Antara Holiday Villas Sdn Bhd.

 

“It is a fact that many of the new human resources policies introduced by the Government, such as the minimum wages and the extension of retirement age from 55 to 60 years, have added pressure on our ability to run businesses efficiently and profitably.

 

“As an hotelier, the challenges faced by the hotel industry with regards to minimum wages is overwhelming simply because most hotels cannot afford the RM900 minimum wages.

 

“In relation to this, we are also prompting the Government on the quid pro quo for minimum wages in terms of allowing more flexible hiring and firing,” he added.

 

 

For further information, contact the MEF Secretariat at 03-7955-7778 or fax 03-7955-9008.