PETALING JAYA: The Communications Ministry is prepared to act as a mediator to ensure the issue of unpaid wages to media practitioners from two organisations can be resolved promptly.
Its minister Fahmi Fahmi said the matter of the unresolved wages will be reviewed by the ministry and he is prepared to become as a mediator.
"Previously, we have assisted in the welfare of some employees from these media organisations, but the organisations themselves must also be accountable and settle their long-standing debts.
"I understand that it has been six months, and media workers have still not received their compensation or wages.
"This is unacceptable and it shouldn’t have not happened. We want a free press, but the press is not free," he said.
On Tuesday (Oct 1), National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJ) and the Gerakan Media Merdeka (GERAMM) urged the employer representing The Malaysian Insight (TMI) and The Vibes to promptly settle all outstanding payments as promised to the affected media workers.
In a joint statement, NUJ and GERAMM affirmed that both organisations stand in solidarity with the journalists as they face the challenges of demanding several months of unpaid wages.
