MEDIA Prima Bhd will terminate 543 employees in the NSTP group, effective March 12.

NSTP National Union of Journalists chairman Farah Marshita Abdul Patah said in a statement the employees who will be axed are from the New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Harian Metro.

These include 193 union members.

The affected employees will get their letters today.

NUJ hoped that the cessation process would proceed smoothly and that the promised compensation would be paid in accordance with the law, she said.

“We hope that this will be the last retrenchment exercise by the company and that no other members will be sacrificed and have to go through this again.

“This may be a hard thing to bear for all involved as well as those who remain, but it may be the best for everyone.”

Earlier today, she told FreeMalaysiaToday that bureaus nationwide would be cut down to five from 14, and that departments in the east coast (Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu), north (Penang, Kedah, Ipoh and Perlis) and south (Johor, Negri Sembilan and Malacca) would be merged.

The Shah Alam and Putrajaya bureaus are also to merge, while Sabah and Sarawak will have a bureau each.

Yesterday, Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) urged Media Prime to ensure all affected workers were paid their due compensation.

Geramm said it made the call  following complaints that a segment of the company workers were overpaid for many years and this had contributed to its financial problems. – December 16, 2019.