A tribute to the late “Kak Nurashikin”, the unsung hero of Malaysian workers

ON the morning of Dec 24, I was informed of the demise of Nurashikin Mohd Yusof, the Transport Workers Union’s (TWU) former president. She was 89 years old.  

Nurashikin is survived by relatives and friends – as her husband and only son having returned to God’s abode in 2006 and 2009, respectively. 

I am sure many of you are wondering who Nurashikin was and why she deserves a tribute.  

Nurashikin served as a ticket conductor working with a bus company in Penang when she became involved with the Transport Workers Union which was, then, helmed by the legendary V David and Tan Sri Zainal Rampak. From the humble job of a ticket conductor, she ascended to the top position of TWU sometime in the 1970s. 

That was a remarkable feat considering the fact that the transportation sector was male dominated. To my knowledge, she was the first, and only woman, to have been elected to become president of a national trade union then.  

Nurashikin was always down-to-earth and liked by all who had the privilege to have known her. She was fondly addressed as “Kak Nurashikin” as she had that sisterly, even a motherly, disposition.  

However, beneath that warm appearance there was this straight talking, blunt, frank and a “I don’t care less” approach in addressing issues concerning the welfare of the workers. Nurashikin spoke from her heart without sugar coating issues affecting workers.  

I, for one, had the good fortune to have known her since 1978 when I first started my full-time trade union work. Though Nurashikin was the national President of the TWU, she chose not to uproot herself to Kuala Lumpur but to function from a small office in Bishop Street, Penang, together with the union’s Industrial Relations Officer, the late V Gopal.  

To almost all of us newbies in the movement back then, that office was our “port” to our learning curve and never once were we made to feel un-welcomed there!  

“Kak Nurashikin” was also actively involved in the Malaysia Trades Union Congress (MTUC) Penang Division and was elected chairperson in the 1980s. From my recollection, she was the first woman to lead a division of the MTUC then.  

Even after her retirement, Nurashikin’s heart was still with the workers movement. She was truly an unsung hero of the workers’ struggle.  

To her family who stood witness to her immeasurable contributions to the working-class struggle, we say thank you very much for gifting her to the worker’s movement. May her soul rest in peace in the arms of the Almighty. – Dec 26, 2021.  

  

K Veeriah is the secretary of the MTUC Penang Division 

 

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