An outright appeal the Madani gov’t to look into the plight of working-class journos

 

Letter to Editor

THIS matter has been dwelling in my head for a good part of this year – whether I should or not in the end interest of a profession – pen as a note of appeal to the government of the day.

I am compelled to address the plight facing the local journalists – the working-class ones – as it has come to my attention that many of them continued to be abused at work.

They are not getting salaries as per labour law (meaning on time) and their statutory benefits are also left unfulfilled.

It is disheartening to note that in this age of transparency and accountability, the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and even the Social Security Organisation (SOSCO) can allow errant employers not to contribute, more so for those in the journalism occupation.

In some cases, the abuse has continued unattended for several months, thus putting journalists who are already busy trying to rush their content having to pursue the matter with IRB, EPF and SOSCO.

As the saying goes, two wrongs do not make a right.

Here, we are faced with errant employers who failed to fulfil the basic common obligations of employment, ie contributing the statutory declarations of their workers.

And now such owners are allowed a leeway because the enforcement divisions of key government organisations such as the income tax, retirement fund and social security somehow cannot find the time and space to reprimand such persons.

Dire straits

And the errant media owners then hide under the guise of a myriad of companies in trying to evade action. Instead, the victims – the journalists – were allegedly pestered to fill up forms and just wait.

And why the long wait when the evidence is there for action to be taken on the spot? Isn’t the concept of Madani (civil and responsible) conduct inherently adopted by the likes of EPF, IRB and SOSCO?

Recently, it was also brought to my attention that a journalist had begged in a chat room for the employer to settle wages as he needed money to purchase infant formula milk.

In this day and age, such circumstances should not have materialised in the first place.

Journalists who are ably employed have a code of conduct and ethics to become the truth army out to battle the fake news peddlers out there, especially the social media machinations by writing and providing accounts based on facts and figures as opposed to half-truth or outright slander.

Yet they are threatened or intimidated by the authorities or influential persons such as politicians with lawsuits just to suit the latter’s selfish political agenda.

Worse still, their basic wages are not paid under the watch of a government with Madani principles.

The government can certainly do better than to wait for a media council to be formed when it would likely be filled up by elite journalists trying to come across as genuine practitioners but insiders know they are nothing more than imposters trying to fake their way through.

The plight of the working-class journalists in Malaysia needs more attention other than face value commitments – they need reforms to be executed throughout the field from appointing those who have the ability to carry out such reforms to those who are sincere about helping their peers.

Genuine media owners needed

In memory of two veteran journalists who were forced to work as security guards for decades before they passed on, this note is also an informal tribute to those who continue to struggle in their profession in an age where the pen is no longer mightier because now everybody can post their thoughts on social media.

I shall not name them out of respect to their families and peers but in their honour, the struggle to right the wrongs being inflicted on the profession needs to be carried on.

The government should start regulating media owners – both traditional and online. They must be screened and permits only issued to those who want to be part of the righteous media, not the imposters.

It starts with the owners – they must be genuine and have sustainable business models before they are allowed to hire any accredited journalists.

If they do not know how to sustain or at least make operating costs, they have no business being in the news business.

Those serving in decision-making positions must be those who have plans to help the industry – not their political masters, families or their cronies.

It seems that a cartel has enveloped the industry with the same familiar individuals at the helm of many news organisations – the platforms may have changed but the agenda remains the same which is “control content by controlling the journalists”.

In the past, journalists accepted this formula just as long as they were paid but now some are not even getting their wages.

But as the 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Bhd) scandal has proven, the truth has a way of filtering out – it may take longer than the usual but in the end, truth will reign directly or indirectly, especially in a profession where one is trained to speak, sing, dance and write the truth. That is all embedded in the code of journalism ethics.

So, for the national unity government, please unite the journalists and help those who really need it.

A B40 Journalist
Kuala Lumpur

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia