KUALA LUMPUR: The National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJM) and Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) have called for the immediate payment of outstanding wages owed to a group of journalists from The Malaysian Insight and The Vibes.
The call comes after affected journalists had to grapple with several months of unpaid salaries, of which the organisations stated, "A 'free press' is not free" in a joint statement.
The organisations stressed that employers' failure to pay salaries, as well as other statutory contributions, constitutes a violation of the Employment Act 1955.
"This failure represents a form of oppression and reveals weaknesses in the employer's management.
"Journalists, as media workers, should not be treated like beggars. Every cent they demand is the result of hard work that supports the company's operations.
"Undeniably, the involved media workers are facing financial and emotional pressure as they deal with the responsibility of continuing to provide for themselves and their families."
NUJM and Geramm also called on all parties to provide support for the efforts to uphold the rights of media workers.
"The sustainability of Malaysia's media landscape is also influenced by ensuring justice for media workers, and any form of neglect cannot be allowed.
"To all media workers, be practitioners of the media to deliver the news, but do not forget our story."