THE National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has brought the matter of Utusan Melayu Bhd’s late payment of staff wages to the attention of the Human Resources Ministry.

In a response to The Malaysian Insight, NUJ’s general secretary Chin Sung Chew said Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran was informed of the debacle last Tuesday in a meeting.

Pointing out that this is not the first time Utusan is faced with such a “critical situation”, Chin said the Human Resource Ministry will mediate for an amicable resolution.

“We have actually (extended) the issue to the Human Resources Ministry. Deputy minister Datuk Mahfuz (Omar) will be the coordinator to settle the issue in a amicable way.”

He said NUJ stands by its members in Utusan, but acknowledges the media group’s financial situation.

“We will definitely help our Utusan members to fight till the end, but we do understand  the company is facing difficult times at the moment and the company has also promised to pay their employees as soon as possible.

Chin said salaries are supposed to be paid at the end of the month but Utusan has asked to delay payment to the first week of the following month

NUJ counts among its members employees of mainstream publication houses such as Berita Harian Sdn Bhd, Harian Metro and Utusan Karya, New Straits Times Press, The Sun Media Corporation, Star Publications, Nanyang Siang Pau, Sin Chew Jit Poh and Kwong Wah Yit Poh.

A staff memo dated May 10 sighted by The Malaysian Insight revealed that the company is unable to pay the staff’s April salaries on time due to the “critical state of its cash-flow.”

The publisher of the Utusan Malaysia and Kosmo newspapers also be late paying the half-month salary for May.

“The company understands that the delay in payment will disrupt the day to day activities of staff especially with Hari Raya being around the corner,” said executive chairman Abd Aziz Sheikh Fadzir.

The loss-making company is in the midst of regularising its finances. – May 12, 2019.