KUALA LUMPUR – Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has expressed his readiness to act as an intermediary to resolve disputes between a group of media practitioners and their employer over salary arrears.
Fahmi stressed that the delay in payment, which he said has been an ongoing issue over the last six months, was “unacceptable and unjustified.”
“We want a free press, but the press is not free. It is mandatory for the media organisation in question to settle salary arrears for its employees,” the minister told reporters while on a working visit in Busan, South Korea.
“I will look into the matter (and) am ready to be a mediator. Previously, (the ministry) did assist some of the employees in terms of welfare, (but) the media organisation must make good (on) settling their debts.”
Yesterday, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) issued a statement on its solidarity with a group of journalists demanding “several months” of unpaid wages from their employer, “representing The Malaysian Insight (TMI) and The Vibes.”
“It must be emphasised that the failure to pay wages and other contributions that are the employer’s responsibility is a violation under the Employment Act 1955.
“This clearly represents a form of oppression and reflects the weaknesses in management on the employer’s part,” the groups said in the joint statement.
They also urged the employer to promptly settle all outstanding payments “as promised”, adding: “The sustainability of Malaysia’s media landscape is also influenced by ensuring justice for media workers. Any form of neglect cannot be allowed.”
In February, Fahmi met TMI staffers who, at that time, had reportedly not been paid their wages for several months.
Fahmi said then that since the process to help the affected employees will “take some time”, the best solution would be in the form of a “private initiative”.
However, he had assured that his ministry will look into the matter. – October 2, 2024