KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 -- A former human resources minister acted with "clear bias" when he sided with banks against their employees in a dispute over Hari Raya festive aid, the High Court said in a recent judgment.

Judge Datuk Aliza Sulaiman said the minister compromised his office's neutrality by giving "time and input" to the Malayan Commercial Banks' Association (MCBA) while the dispute was still under a supposedly impartial conciliation process, the New Straits Times reported.

The dispute began after banks, represented by the MCBA, declined to pay a one-month festive aid to members of the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) for Hari Raya in 2024, despite a prior agreement.

The banks instead offered a reduced one-off payment, w...