Norzahizan Ismail has been awarded RM71,128 by the Industrial Court for wrongful dismissal
GEORGE TOWN: A former Utusan Melayu journalist has been awarded RM71,128 by the Industrial Court for wrongful dismissal.
The court also ordered the newspaper company, Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Bhd, to reinstate Norzahizan Ismail within 60 days.
In his 54-page judgment, Industrial Court chairman Mohd Amin Firdaus Abdullah found that Norzahizan's dismissal was done in bad faith and without just cause or excuse.
Mohd Amin ruled that the company had also failed to prove all three charges against Norzahizan.
Norzahizan, who was dismissed on Sept 15, 2004, was found guilty by the newspaper's internal inquiry of three charges:
- Disobeying her superior's orders to give coverage for an Asia-Pacific event by filing only a caption story of the event;
- Failing to complete her assignment after attending a press conference for the Commonwealth Tourism Ministers Conference; and,
- Failing to complete another assignment on a health-related article.
Mohd Amin found that there were inaccuracies in the typewritten notes of the internal inquiry.
In addition, he also found that a proper or valid domestic inquiry was not held.
He said ultimately the company failed to establish a prima facie case against Norzahizan, who had been working for the newspaper since March 3, 1997.
Mohd Amin ordered the company to pay a total of RM71,128 in backwages and monthly transport allowance as well as an exemplary award as the dismissal was without just cause or excuse.
Norzahizan was represented by Jagdeep Singh Deo while the company was represented by S. Benjamin.
After the hearing, Norzahizan said she was happy at being reinstated.
"I plan to quit my present job as a corporate communications manager in a college and rejoin Utusan Melayu.
"When I was dismissed, I felt demoralised and even depressed at one point," she said.
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