GENEVA (Switzerland) Wed, 2 June – For the first time in history, the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) will lead both the regional and international employers’ organisations. Y.Bhg. Dato’ Azman Shah Dato’ Seri Haron, the President of MEF who was unanimously elected as the President-Elect of the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) at its General Council meeting here yesterday, was today elected as Chairman of the Confederation of Asia Pacific Employers (CAPE) at its General Council Meeting.

“It is indeed a great honour and a privilege for MEF to be given the trust and confidence to lead both the IOE and CAPE. The international and regional employers’ communities have indeed honoured MEF and Malaysia with this esteemed recognition,” said Dato’ Azman.

“With the new appointments, MEF will also take over the secretariat of CAPE and MEF Executive Director Tn. Hj. Shamsuddin Bardan will serve as the Secretary-General of CAPE, whilst MEF Vice-President En. A. Ramadass is elected as the Deputy Treasurer of CAPE.”

Established in 2000, CAPE comprises 21 members. They are the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Bangladesh Employers' Federation (BEF), Cambodian Federation of Employers and Business Association (CAMFEBA), China Enterprise Confederation (CEC), Fiji Employers' Federation (FEF), Council of Indian Employers (CIE), Employers' Association of Indonesia (APINDO), Iranian Confederation of Employers' Associations (ICEA), Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), Korea Employers Federation (KEF), Mongolian Employers' Federation (MONEF), Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FNCCI), Business New Zealand, Employers' Federation of Pakistan (EFP), Employers' Federation of Papua New Guinea, Employers' Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), Employers' Federation of Ceylon (EFC), Employers' Confederation of Thailand (ECOT), Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and MEF.

MEF has created a positive image for Malaysia internationally following the election of Y.Bhg. Dato’ Azman as the President-Elect of the IOE. This is indeed another great honour and privilege for MEF and Malaysia. These appointments are in addition to MEF’s other positions, including the position of En. A. Ramadass, Vice-President of MEF as Deputy Member of the ILO Governing Body for the period 2008 – 2011.

Established in 1920, the IOE is recognised as the only organisation at the international level that represents the interests of business in the labour and social policy fields. Presently, the IOE consists of 148 national employer organisations from 141 countries.

For further details, please contact the MEF Secretariat at 03-7955 7778, or fax 03-7955 9008.