We’re treated inhumanely, say Utusan employees

Alfian Z.M. Tahir Alfian Z.M. Tahir Updated 6 years ago · Published on 9 Oct 2019 3:02PM · 8 Comments

Utusan Malaysia National Union of Journalists chairman Taufek Razak slams the company’s top management for not engaging with the employees since February. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Afif Abd Halim, October 9, 2019.

MORE than 800 employees of Utusan Malaysia are left confused with the company’s direction as they are not given an explanation relating to the future of the country’s oldest Malay publication.

Utusan Malaysia National Union of Journalists chairman Taufek Razak in a press conference also slammed the company’s executive chairman Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir for not engaging with the staff since retaking the post last February.

Today, the company has announced its immediate shutdown, and asked all staff members to return for a final briefing on October 30 to know their fate.

“The way that we are treated is inhumane. The notice served is very short.

“The top management can easily arrange the meeting early on but they chose to treat us in a very unprofessional way.

“At today’s briefing, no one from the top management level is with us. The human resource manager is not here, the finance manager is not there, the executive chairman is not there.

“We had been briefed by our head of department who could not produce a concrete answer about our future.

“Do we deserve to be treated in this manner?”

Staff members of Utusan Malaysia says they have been given a very short notice regarding the company’s shutdown. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Afif Abd Halim, October 9, 2019.

Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Berhad’s management announced its shut down today in an internal memo to staff members earlier today.

The decision was made as the company is no longer able to shoulder the burden of its debts accumulated over the years, estimated at between RM240 million and RM340 million.

Taufek said all 862 employees have been given a month’s leave and required to come to the office at the end of October for a meeting where a final decision will be made as to their fates.

“We are not sacked or terminated. We are all given a month’s leave by the company starting today.

“However, we need to clear our things from the office as the building is no longer owned by Utusan.

“We are required to come again for a final briefing on October 30. On that day, we will know whether all of us are terminated or if we are going to join a new company.

“As for now, we are still Utusan Malaysia’s staff members.”

Recounting Utusan’s predicament, Taufik said the paper should have heeded NUJ’s advice that it should be free from political interference or any affiliation with political parties.

“Umno should have let go all of its shares in Utusan the day they lost power.

“In the 1960s, Utusan wanted to be free and independent. Today, this is still the reason why we want to be free and independent.

“If we had been free from political power, we would still be around.”

Taufik said the Utusan Malaysia NUJ chapter tried to meet with Aziz several times but he kept postponing the meeting.

“We called, we sent messages but every time we spoke to hime, he would give promises and then he would break them. From one date to another, he kept postponing.

“Such a coward for not having the guts to meet us and discuss about the company’s future. We are all confused.” – October 9, 2019.

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Comments

  • That's the price to pay for abetting the publication of lies, slander and hate news against other Malaysians. Now there's no one left to blame except themselves. If they're willing to be made use of by a chauvinistic political party, they must expect something like this to happen since nothing is permanent.

    Posted 6 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

  • So your Malay top management did not treat you with dignity?

    Posted 6 years ago by Yoon Kok · Reply

  • Inhumane? It seems the management treats the employees just like the way it treated other Malaysians.

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • its called karma

    Posted 6 years ago by Mo Salleh · Reply

  • Nobody can escape Karma. What u sow, what u get. Pls repent with full sincerity and morally , hopefully your sins can be reduced.

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • Hahaha..didnt the malays at the Dignity Congress beat their chest and screamed that orang melayu must be at the helm of everything from government to government agencies to GLCs and what not. Now Utusan is a good example what will happen when Malay politicians or political appointees try to run a company. So still want to thump your chest? So shameful.

    Posted 6 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • Since you have nothing to lose, who wrote all the Awang Selamat articles, please expose.

    Posted 6 years ago by A Subscriber · Reply

  • The real 'dignity' element is to keep the only UMNO controlled BM newspaper in circulation. Is this the way to treat loyal supporters of a political party? What has happened to the 'buy only Muslim product' supporters?

    Posted 6 years ago by Citizen Pencen · Reply