A free press is not free: Malaysian journalists unions stand firm in fight for journalists’ delayed pay

File photo of media practitioners from Malaysia gathering at Plaza Merdeka for 2024 Hawana Exhibition at Plaza Merdeka on May 25, 2024.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Oct 3: “A free press is not free”, meaning there is a cost to be paid, including fair wages, to build a free media landscape.

The National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJ) and the Gerakan Media Merdeka (GERAMM) emphasised this principle as they stood in solidarity with a group of journalists facing the challenge of demanding several months of unpaid wages from their employer, representing The Malaysian Insight, The Vibes and Getaran.

“It is highly unjust for journalists, as media workers, to be treated like beggars, when every cent they demand is the result of hard work that contributes to the company’s operations,” the two organisations stated in a joint statement posted on its social media on Oct 1.

They asserted that the failure to pay wages and fulfill other employer obligations violates the Employment Act 1955.

“This clearly represents a form of oppression and reflects the weaknesses in management on the employer’s part.”

File photo of NUJ and GERAMM logos. Photo credit: National Union of Journalists Peninsular Malaysia Facebook

The organisations noted that affected media professionals are undoubtedly facing financial and emotional pressure while managing their responsibilities to support themselves and their families.

They urged the employer to promptly settle all outstanding payments as promised, allowing these media professionals to determine their future direction.

NUJM and GERAMM also highlighted that the sustainability of Malaysia’s media landscape hinges on ensuring justice for media professionals, stressing that any form of neglect is unacceptable.

They called on all parties to provide support for the efforts to uphold the rights of media personnel.

“To all media workers, be practitioners of the media to deliver the news, but do not forget our story.”

In a statement yesterday (Oct 2), NUJM expressed its readiness to act as a mediator in addressing the issue of unpaid salary issue for journalists from The Malaysia Insight, The Vibes and Getaran to ensure that the rights of the affected journalists were upheld and that all salary arrears were settled promptly.

Its president, Farah Marshita Abdul Patah, reiterated that, as the sole body responsible for negotiating salaries and employment conditions for journalists in Malaysia, these salary arrears represent a serious violation of workers’ rights.

“NUJM is committed to protecting the rights of Malaysian journalists and ensuring that they are fairly compensated for their hard work. We also want to emphasise the importance of establishing unions in every media company.

“The existence of unions would not only safeguard workers’ rights but ensure that media workers’ salaries remain progressive in line with the country’s development trends.

“Justice for media workers must be upheld, and no form of negligence should be tolerated,” she added.

In a report by NST, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil echoed similar sentiments, deeming the non-payment of salaries to media practitioners over several months as totally unacceptable.

He also expressed willingnes to act as an intermediary on behalf of media practitioners and their respective employers to find the best solution to the issue. — DayakDaily