Full Release: Kuala Lumpur, 3 August – UEM Edgenta Berhad (“UEM Edgenta” or “the Company”) wishes to deny the allegations made in an article published on Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s (“PSM”) website titled “Majikan curi OT (overtime) dan cuti umum pekerja pembersihan?”. The article highlights serious and misleading allegations by the National Union of Workers in Hospital Support and Allied Services (“union”) accusing UEM Edgenta’s wholly owned subsidiary, Edgenta UEMS Sdn. Bhd. (“Edgenta UEMS”) of mistreating its employees.

Edgenta UEMS has implemented a Unified Clocking System (“UCS”) at Taiping Hospital, Perak, as part of a pilot programme to replace the traditional punch card system currently in place. As a result of this new feature, the existing punch cards were retrieved from the employees to facilitate the change. Internal inquiries by the Company confirms that the alleged “snatching” of punch cards as claimed by the union did not occur at any hospital under its care. The Company is concerned by the serious and misleading allegations by the union and is committed to investigate any claims of non-compliant practices by its employees, including by supervisors and managers through imposing appropriate and responsive actions, in line with UEM Edgenta’s Code of Conduct.

UEM Edgenta is keen to engage with the union and properly explain the new UCS feature which will provide various benefits to enhance the Company’s service delivery to the Ministry of Health (“MoH”) Malaysia. The UCS is introduced to improve operational efficiency in managing the Company’s labour-intensive operations across multiple sites. It is able to track each employees’ daily routines and produce data analytics to enhance the Company’s current workforce management practices.

Additionally, the Company would like to reiterate that changes to employees’ working schedule shall be undertaken as and when required to ensure operations is optimised at all MoH hospitals under its care. The change of working hours and schedule is done in compliance with S60A (1) (d) of Employment Act 1955, Amendment 2012, which stipulates the following:

60A. (1) Except as hereinafter provided, an employee shall not be required under his contract of service to work -

• more than five consecutive hours without a period of leisure of not less than thirty minutes duration;
• more than eight hours in one day;
• in excess of a spread over period of ten hours in one day;
• more than forty-eight hours in one week.

Notice of the change was communicated to all impacted employees through an internal memo dated 11 February 2020.

UEM Edgenta is committed to the highest standards of professionalism, honesty, integrity, accountability and ethical behaviour in the conduct of its business and operations. We aspire to conduct our affairs in an ethical, responsible and transparent manner. The Company’s Whistleblowing Policy (“the Policy”) has been formulated to enable employees of UEM Edgenta and members of the public to report instances of unethical behaviour, improper conduct, actual or suspected fraud and / or abuse with the Company. The implementation of the Policy is also in line with the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010, Companies Act 2016, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, Capital Markets and Services Act 2007, Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, Personal Data Protection Act 2010 and all applicable laws and regulations in Malaysia.

Disclosures can be made via the whistleblowing channel on the Company’s website (https://whistleblowing.uemedgenta.com/WhistleBlowerMain.aspx).

Any further updates related to this matter will be communicated through our website (www.uemedgenta.com).