KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 28 — Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil will meet with the management of three news portals today to address the issue of unpaid salaries for media personnel.
Expressing his dismay over the matter, Fahmi said he would closely monitor the situation with Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong to ensure the welfare and rights of workers, including journalists, are upheld.
“I am giving them a final chance. I will wait until tomorrow to hear what the editors-in-chief of these portals have to say, and I will follow up accordingly,” he said when winding up the committee-level debate on the Supply Bill 2025 for the Communications Ministry in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
On October 2, the National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJ) announced it was ready to mediate the issue of unpaid salaries involving media personnel at The Malaysian Insight, The Vibes, and Getaran.
NUJ president Farah Marshita Abdul Patah said the union is committed to protecting the rights of journalists and ensuring overdue salaries are promptly settled.
Fahmi also said media practitioners facing difficulty can seek support through the Kasih@Hawana Fund.
“The Kasih@Hawana Fund is not limited to National Journalists’ Day. It can be accessed at any time to help journalists in need,” he said.
Regarding the recent issue over delayed payments to creative freelancers, Fahmi clarified it was an isolated issue that has been internally resolved.
He assured the Communications Ministry and RTM are committed to safeguarding the welfare of freelance staff.
— Bernama
