Cook claims being sacked from job for being a non-Muslim
MIRI: A former cook of a secondary school in Subis has expressed his dissatisfaction following a decision by the school principal to terminate his service just because he is a non-Muslim.
Ladun Jenau, 48, said although the catering contractor at the schoolisaMuslimandthemajority of his workers are also Muslims, the employment of a colleague and himself was terminated. The principal apparently did not want non- Muslims working in the kitchen.
“The previous school principal was also a Muslim but there was no problem for me to work in the kitchen. The new principal terminated our service for the reason that we are not Muslims,” he said.
Ladun said he has been working as a cook at the school since January 2011, and has served under three different principals including the current one, until he was terminated in June.
“My employer as well as my colleagues who are Muslims have stood up for me as I am the most senior cook among them, but their efforts fell on deaf ears.
“In fact, I have personally begged the principal to let me work as a kitchen helper instead of a cook for another year as my daughter is also attending Form 4 class at the school, but my appeal was not entertained,” said Ladun.
To make matter worst, Ladun said he and his co-worker were terminated without any notice, leaving them unprepared. He is currently doing odd jobs such as repairing drains and cutting grass at nearby villages and longhouses to make ends meet.
He said the principal did promise him that if the school experienced insufficient cooks, he would be called back to work, but until today that has not happened.
Following the decision by the principal to terminate his service in June without any notice, Ladun said he’s now facing financial problems taking care of his family, and struggled to find odd jobs in nearby villages.
Since his daughter is still attending class at the school, he has no choice but to continue to stay at a rented house near the school.
“Apart from paying rent, I am also facing difficulties in servicing my car loan as I do not have a stable income anymore,” he said.
Ladun has reached out to a Dayak- based non- government organisation, Terabai Menua ( TM) to air his disappointment. He was later brought to The Borneo Post office here to highlight his situation.
“I am highlighting my predicament so that there will be no more such discrimination in other departments, sections or sectors. Workers like us should be given early notice before we are terminated so that we can plan for ways to survive after losing our jobs,” he said.
TM Bekenu chairman Jimmy Luang said apart from Ladun, they had also received similar complaints from parents who have rallied their support for Ladun.
“We were also informed that a religious class for Christian students every Thursday, which has been ongoing for many years, has been cancelled since the new principal took over the school.
“I was also told by a parent that
We do not want the peace and unity among the multiracial and multi-religious students to be affected by the attitude of this principal Lawrence Uri, TM president
during a blessing programme for non-Muslim students who will be sitting for their PT3 exam, a Christian teacher had invited a Catechist to conduct prayers and blessings for the students. Though the programme went on as planned, the principal later scolded the teacher for inviting the Catechist. There are many similar complaints from parents,” said Jimmy.
On a related development, TM president Lawrence Uri said if the allegation by Ladun and parents of the students were true, something must be done to stop it immediately.
“We do not want the peace and unity among the multi-racial and multi-religious students to be affected by the attitude of this principal,” he said.
Lawrence said as a civil servant, the principal should carry out her duty without bias, based on the 1Malaysia concept mooted by the prime minister, and to be sensitive to the religions and cultures of the people in the surrounding area, which is about 90 per cent Dayak.
“TM hopes that the Education Department can investigate all these allegations, and should it turn out to be true, measures must be taken for the best of everyone involved.
Meanwhile, the principal when contacted said Ladun was an employee of the previous contractor and not employed by the school.
“We have a new contractor now and they have their own workers. Ladun’s contract ended together with the service of the previous contractor.
“Thirty per cent of our students are Muslims and it is in the contractor’s terms that all food must be prepared by Muslims, according to halal certification. Muslims have their own way of preparing food and that is why in any halal premises, all food must be prepared by Muslims,” she said.
The principal added that she had advised Ladun to apply with other contractors at the school including as a security guard if he still wants to work at the school, but she did not know if Ladun did apply.
“We have four different contractors giving different services to the school. They are responsible with their own workers. I do not have the power to tell them whom to employ. We only pay them for their services.”
She added that she had in fact offered Ladun’s daughter to stay at the school hostel after her father Ladun stopped working and living there, as it would be more convenient for the family.
“I spoke directly to his daughter and offered her to stay at the hostel. But until today, I have not gotten any response and Ladun has also not approached me on the matter,” she said.
Touching on the cancelled religious class, she said it was actually moved to Sunday, and was divided into four different groups.
“We have about 500 students attending the class, which is at night, and only two wardens. We shifted the class to Sunday morning, and divided it into four groups according to denominations for the students’ own safety.
“It’s not easy to watch over a large number of students, especially when the classes are held at night,” she said.
She added that there were also social issues such as students going ‘dating’ instead of attending the class. Every year the school faces numerous problems including students getting pregnant.