KUALA LUMPUR – Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd has defaulted on a RM2.9mil loan.
“Due to financial constraints the company is not able to meet its obligation to repay the Affin Islamic Bank Bhd and therefore had defaulted in profit and principal payment to the bank,” it said.
Utusan was supposed to settle the loan on July 31.
“The company intends to submit a proposal to restructure the term loan facilities with the bank. In the meantime, the company is working towards restructuring all its loan facilities in line with its business transformation plan,” it said.
Utusan said there is no significant impact of the default in payment on the business, financial and operations of the remaining business of the group.
“Nevertheless, the group shall endeavour to continue its other remaining business operations notwithstanding the default and will engage with the lenders and suppliers for their continuous support,” it said. – ANN
Zahid slams Maszlee, says Utusan an educational tool
AHMAD Zahid Hamidi has taken Dr Maszlee Malik to task over an Education Ministry memo instructing universities and schools to stop subscribing to the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia.
The Umno president said the move is unwise, and that sections of the newspaper serve to educate students.
“I feel that the minister has the final say. The decision is uncalled for.
“Utusan is not merely about politics. It has other sections that offer knowledge to students and teachers.
“If he (Maszlee) is a wise man, he would not have allowed the memo to be circulated by his special officer. This move does not benefit anyone,” he said at an event in Sg Kandis.
It was reported that the ministry has instructed schools and universities to end their Utusan subscriptions, via a memo issued through Wan Saiful Wan Jan, who is a special adviser to the education minister.
“The minister has requested that Utusan Malaysia subscriptions for all divisions, agencies, schools, universities, colleges and institutions under the Education Ministry be ceased immediately,” said the memo, dated July 18 and addressed to the ministry’s chief secretary, Mohd Gazali Abas.
A ministry official has confirmed the memo’s authenticity.
Zahid said Maszlee – a first-time MP and minister – could have other agendas for issuing the order.
The education minister, however, said he is not aware of any instructions from the ministry for educational institutions to discontinue their Utusan subscriptions.
However, he said, the ministry supports any move to save money.
“I will have to check first. Anyway, we are in cost-cutting mode. Today, there are a lot of newspapers that we can read online.
“Any move that can save taxpayers’ money, we will support,” he told reporters in Parliament.
The Utusan management said it wants a meeting with the ministry to find out the reason for the order.
Utusan group executive chairman Abd Aziz Sheik Fadzir said the company has yet to receive an official notice on the matter.
“We have not received any order from the ministry. But according to the marketing side, it is only the Education Ministry in Putrajaya that has stopped its subscription.
“The others have yet to receive any instructions to cease their subscriptions. For instance, programmes in schools are through sponsorships,” he told Malaysiakini. – – https://www.themalaysianinsight.com
ANN / THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.