KUALA LUMPUR – The staff of Zoo Negara are up in arms over being forced to work during the nationwide lockdown, said the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC).
MTUC general council member A. Sivananthan said while it was understandable for workers attending to animals to be working, it does not make sense for support staff such as those in customer service or ticketing to work.
“Zoo Negara is asking everyone to work from 8am to 5pm, even non-essential workers, despite the zoo being closed,” Sivananthan told The Vibes.
He also raised issues concerning the equipment available for the staff to protect themselves during the pandemic.
“Also for the zookeepers; why don’t they implement shifts? If one worker is sick, the other can come to attend to the animal,” Sivananthan added.
He also pointed out that the staff were not provided letters by the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) to operate or attend work.
Speaking to The Vibes, a zookeeper who wanted to remain anonymous highlighted the plight of his fellow workers, saying the zoo lacks manpower.
Additionally, he said there are no sufficient safety measures in the zoo for workers like him who attend to animals, stating that the risk of getting attacked by animals or sustaining serious injury exists.
“During this lockdown, we are working as per normal, they didn’t even limit our working times.
“There is also a lack of safety measures. We need better equipment and enclosure,” the zookeeper said.
Also, with regard to the section of the zoo that he is in charge of, his whole team is required to work.
The concern with such a policy, he said, is that there may be difficulty finding a replacement in the event a team member falls sick.
“It would be better to work shifts, so that if one of them is sick, someone else can come cover our shift and take care of the animals,” he said.
As for the current state of the animals, they are receiving the normal amount of food, but highlighted an issue concerning sponsored animals.
“For sponsored animals, they are actually supposed to receive better treatment.
“But here, we don’t know what’s going on. The Zoo Negara management is not the best, even our salaries are low.
“I have worked here for a long time, many years, but my salary is no different than a new entrant.
“I urge the government to intervene and look into these matters,” he added.
Zoo Negara deputy president Rosly Rahmat Ahmat Lana explained that the zoo is following guidelines set by the National Security Council (NSC), which stipulates that 60% of workers are allowed to go to work.
As for recommendations by zookeepers for staggered shifts, he said they have been running the zoo for decades and they are moved around sometimes.
“Like those who take care of tigers, after a certain time, they will take care of crocodiles.
“So, when there is a lack of staff for a shift, we can just pool in from somewhere else,” Rosly told The Vibes.
Meanwhile, on the ticketing staff required to work despite the zoo’s closure, Rosly said they may have other duties to do.
On the workers’ complaints about not being given Miti approval letters, Rosly said: “We aren’t under Miti. These people don’t know what they are talking about.
“We have experience since last year. We aren’t under Miti, we are under (the) essential (sectors).
“That means we just produce a letter from management to the staff plus attachment of laws and regulations saying Zoo Negara is essential,” he said. – The Vibes, June 4, 2021
