Kuala Lumpur: Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil will meet with media practitioners on Wednesday to discuss various issues, particularly their welfare, amid changes in Malaysia's media landscape. He said several media companies in the country are struggling to pay salaries due to economic pressures over the past three to four years.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, this is partly due to advertising expenditure shifting from mainstream media to social media. As a result, some media outlets have successfully adapted their operations, while others are still trying to find a new footing. Fahmi stated his intention to explore additional or new ways for the government to assist, emphasizing that the priority is the well-being of media workers. He spoke to reporters after the Digital Leadership Excellence Graduation Ceremony 2024.
Fahmi was responding to recent issues involving Petra News Sdn Bhd and broader industry changes affecting media companies. He confirmed that a meeting between Petra News employees and the company's management took place in the morning but added that he has yet to receive the latest updates on the matter. Fahmi had urged Petra News to engage with its employees to promptly resolve outstanding statutory contributions and salary delays.
When asked about potential regulatory mechanisms to prevent similar issues, Fahmi noted that media companies are already subject to regulation under the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM). He mentioned existing regulatory aspects concerning employee rights, such as contributions to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and coverage under the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso). He also stated that there are no restrictions on the formation of new media companies.
Petra News Sdn Bhd publishes news portals The Malaysian Insight, The Vibes, and Getaran. Recently, 15 Petra News employees demanded the immediate payment of overdue EPF, monthly tax deductions (PCB), and Perkeso contributions for the past year. In a joint statement, they revealed that checks with EPF, the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), and Perkeso confirmed that Petra News had failed to remit both employer and employee contributions, despite salary deductions being made. The affected employees lodged a police report at the Travers Police Station in Brickfields on February 14.