Four-year-old news portal Free Malaysia Today (FMT) has been hit by a series of resignations, including that of its editor-in-chief K Kabilan.
Malaysiakini learned that the resignations stemmed from disagreements between the editorial and top management over various issues.
Sources claimed that more than 10 senior editors and journalists would be quitting, leaving only three to four staff to run the show.
It was also alleged that the management had not contributed to the staff's Employee Provident Fund (EPF) for several months.
However, the source said the management had agreed to settle the matter.
Contacted for comment, Kabilan (left) confirmed his resignation from the news portal but declined to elaborate on the issue.
Meanwhile, the mass exodus was also reported in the blogUppercaise, which is operated by veteran newsman Gobind Rudra.
The blog claimed that the resignations were a result of internal problems.
"Word is that the site is to be more BN-friendly, in a departure from its current position. FMT was set up four years ago, more or less a sister site to Raja Petra Kamaruddin's Malaysia Today.
"Widely believed to have been under the financial patronage of businessman John Soh Chee Wen, once an ally of Anwar Ibrahim, the site had a shaky start," read the blog.
The blog stated that Soh's right-hand man Nelson Fernandez, a former New Straits Times journalist turned ad man and businessman, brought in Kabilan, Malaysiakini's former news editor, and several other senior journalists to build FMT.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg had reported that the Royal Bank of Canada has filed a suit against Fernandez and two other businessmen for a total of US$63 million.
Fernandez is alleged to owe the bank US$22million.
Despite numerous attempts, Fernandez could not be reached for comment.
Malaysiakini learned that the resignations stemmed from disagreements between the editorial and top management over various issues.
Sources claimed that more than 10 senior editors and journalists would be quitting, leaving only three to four staff to run the show.
It was also alleged that the management had not contributed to the staff's Employee Provident Fund (EPF) for several months.
However, the source said the management had agreed to settle the matter.
Contacted for comment, Kabilan (left) confirmed his resignation from the news portal but declined to elaborate on the issue.Meanwhile, the mass exodus was also reported in the blogUppercaise, which is operated by veteran newsman Gobind Rudra.
The blog claimed that the resignations were a result of internal problems.
"Word is that the site is to be more BN-friendly, in a departure from its current position. FMT was set up four years ago, more or less a sister site to Raja Petra Kamaruddin's Malaysia Today.
"Widely believed to have been under the financial patronage of businessman John Soh Chee Wen, once an ally of Anwar Ibrahim, the site had a shaky start," read the blog.
The blog stated that Soh's right-hand man Nelson Fernandez, a former New Straits Times journalist turned ad man and businessman, brought in Kabilan, Malaysiakini's former news editor, and several other senior journalists to build FMT.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg had reported that the Royal Bank of Canada has filed a suit against Fernandez and two other businessmen for a total of US$63 million.
Fernandez is alleged to owe the bank US$22million.
Despite numerous attempts, Fernandez could not be reached for comment.
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