BUSINESS radio station BFM 89.9 has appointed third-party investigators to investigate claims of sexual harassment at its workplace after an anonymous email was sent to several media outlets.

“We have started formal investigations and are engaging with those that have been named. Some of the employees involved have taken a leave of absence,” said BFM founder Malek Ali in a statement today.

“We will also be appointing an independent party to assist us in conducting an impartial investigation.”

Malek said that the current allegations circulating were “upsetting and distressing” for staff at the radio station.

“Until more information comes to light, we do not wish to make statements that may compromise the investigation and cause further distress to our staff.

“Our first priority is and has always been the welfare of our employees, and we take any and all allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct seriously,” he said.

The email, written by a person claiming to be a female employee at BFM, alleged that management was covering up cases of sexual harassment at the workplace.

The email claimed widespread sexual harassment at BFM, including the use of inappropriate language in conversations and text messages.

The Institute of Journalists Malaysia said such claims of sexual harassment underscored the “urgent need” for legislation to reduce such incidents, if not completely cut them out, at any workplace.

“This recent news report points towards a much larger problem facing the media industry, where many victims, mostly women, dare not speak up for fear of retribution or public attack for standing up for their rights,” the institute said in a statement today.

In August, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh had called for specific laws to prevent sexual harassment at the workplace. – December 3, 2018.