The National Union of Journalists Malaysia has urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) to examine Utusan Melayu Malaysia Bhd's sudden closure last week.
NUJ-Utusan branch secretary, Muhammad Bashir Abu Bakar told reporters in parliament that demise of the country's oldest Malay-daily have left them in a quandary with unpaid wages and other claims.
"In this sad and confusing situation about the employees future, we call upon MACC, SSM, the Attorney-General's Chambers and other relevant agencies to monitor Utusan's liquidation process, especially on payment of employees' severance," said Bashir, who was among 862 Utusan's staff left jobless
After years of financial problems, Utusan Malaysia and its sister publication Kosmo! ended operations on Oct 9.
All employees are on leave until the end of this month when a briefing has been scheduled between them and the liquidator.
In an internal memo, Utusan's executive chairperson Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir said the company was no longer solvent despite several attempts to salvage the 80-year-old business.
The company has so far settled salary arrears for September and October, following three months of delays for July and August salaries, deposited on Oct 4.
A delegation of NUJ-Utusan representatives led by its chairperson Mohd Taufek Abu Bakar raised their plight with lawmakers in Parliament today.
The group met with Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil and Kapar MP Datuk Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid.
"It appears that Utusan Malaysia have not only breached terms of their collective agreement with workers but also the Employment Act 1955.
"I would like to remind that offences under the law is punishable with imprisonment," said the former union leader who also promised to raise the issue in his debate of the budget later this week.
"I was notified that Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary has bought and taken over Utusan.
"So the new and old owners should discuss the issue and they must make a decision that does not breach the collective agreement," he said.
Fahmi, meanwhile, expressed concern over unpaid wages and severance owed to Utusan's former staff, as well as to an initial group who undertook a Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) exercise earlier this year.
Unlike a conventional lump-sum offer, the Utusan VSS staff were also offered to be paid in instalments which has similarly been stalled.
"I feel that the new owner must step forward and gave a written explanation to the workers.
"They have to be responsible in this,” he said.
"This could happen to you but hopefully it doesn't happen to anyone of you.
"But if it does happen, we will stand up for you too," Fahmi told reporters.
Utusan's collapse comes less than two months after it raised prices for its printed newspapers in a bid to cover operational costs.
At the time, Umno as its former owner injected RM1.6 million to help pay overdue salaries following a staff picket.
The company was later delisted from Bursa Malaysia for failing to settle its loans. - Mkini
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