Malaysia’s oldest newspaper delays plan to lay off 100 staff

Malaysia's oldest newspaper, Utusan Malaysia, has postponed its plan to lay off 100 staff members, according to recent reports from state-owned media Bernama. The company's Director and Chief Financial Officer, Abd Wahid Idris, revealed that discussions are ongoing and that the organization is open to various options to ensure business continuity and protect employee welfare. The primary focus is to thoroughly assess the situation and explore the most effective way to restructure the business model.

Idris added that adjustments or changes to the existing plans may be implemented following further assessments and consultations with the Communications Minister. Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil had previously suggested that struggling media organizations should engage in discussions to seek assistance and prevent potential layoffs.

The government has introduced the Media Innovation Fund, allocating MYR30 million (US$7.4 million) to support media organizations in diversifying their revenue streams and discovering new sources of income, as reported by Borneo Post Online.

Fadzil expressed concern over the loss of journalism positions, stating that he does not want to witness numerous journalists losing their jobs due to media companies being forced to shut down. He emphasized that several media organizations have downsized their staff in recent years. On Wednesday, the Malaysian Media Council urged Media Mulia to uphold employee rights, promote transparency, and safeguard staff welfare following a restructuring exercise involving Utusan Malaysia and Kosmo! newspapers.