Malaysia's Media Mulia is reconsidering a paid-time-off arrangement involving almost 100 staff as it weighs business changes, leaving job security among the issues under review.
Abd Wahid Idris, Media Mulia's director and chief financial officer, said the publisher was assessing its business model and could change its plans after further review and talks with Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil. He said the publisher was weighing ways to continue operating while supporting its staff.
On Wednesday, the Malaysian Media Council urged Media Mulia to explain its restructuring more fully and safeguard the rights and welfare of employees affected by changes involving the Utusan Malaysia and Kosmo! newspapers.
Fahmi has encouraged media companies facing operational or financial strain to discuss possible assistance with the government. He said he wanted to avoid journalists losing jobs when media companies were forced to close, and noted that several media organizations had laid off workers in recent years.
Fahmi said the government introduced the Media Innovation Fund with a MYR30 million (US$7.4 million) allocation to help media organizations diversify revenue and develop additional income sources. His comments addressed industry-wide pressures, while Media Mulia's ongoing review concerns its own business model and employee arrangements.
