Berjaya Books welcomes verdict
PETALING JAYA: Berjaya Books Sdn Bhd, which operates the Borders outlets, yesterday welcomed the Federal Court decision regarding its employee Nik Raina Nik Abdul Aziz.
“Borders would like to believe that the prolonged prosecution and our defence of Nik Raina has not been for naught and that it will give heart to other employers to stand by their employees if they should be prosecuted for merely doing their jobs,” Berjaya Books Sdn Bhd director Yau Su Peng said in a statement yesterday.
“This ordeal is finally over but not without enormous personal and financial cost. Nik Raina and her family have had to endure the brunt of mental stress and anguish throughout this period.
“This unfair and unjust prosecution of both Nik Raina and Borders was an unnecessary waste of energy and resources on the part of the various public authorities including the Attorney General’s Chambers,” Yau said.
“When we set out to defend Nik Raina’s right to work in a safe environment, we did not envisage that our action would be dragged through three civil courts, including the highest court in the land, and the syariah court over a longdrawn 39 months. Our journey began when Berjaya Books took the decision to protect our employee from being victimised for merely performing her duties.
“We hope today’s verdict will drive home the point that justice is always worth fighting for,” Yau said.
Nik Raina continues to work with Borders in her promoted position as area operations manager.
Nik Raina, meanwhile, said: “I am overwhelmed by the unflinching support given by the founder of Berjaya Corporation, Tan Sri Vincent Tan, and its chairman and CEO, Datuk Seri Robin Tan.
“It would have been cheaper and more convenient for the company to leave me to plead guilty; after all, the maximum fine for the offence is RM3,000. However, there was also the possibility of jail time and a permanent criminal record.
“My boss, Yau Su Peng, was adamant that I not be exposed to that risk. She refused to compromise justice with financial convenience. For that, I will be eternally grateful.”