PART-TIME workers at public broadcasting station Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) have not been paid their salaries since June, said sources.
Sources imply that there are more than 700 such part-time employees nationwide who were hired to do various tasks on a piecemeal basis.
They claimed they had been told that RTM was awaiting funds from the government to pay them off.
“I’ve been working with RTM for years and this is the first time I’ve encountered such an issue.
“I’m not the only one. Many others hired on a piecemeal basis have not been paid for almost two months now,” a source told The Malaysian Insight. The sources do not want to be identified for fear of facing internal action.
A source said several others who were affected by the delay were afraid to make the issue public due to fear of repercussions.
The source added that the director-general of broadcasting and the head of department were aware of the situation, but said they were waiting for funds from the Finance Ministry.
“We are not sure what is happening at the higher level, but they certainly know something which they are not telling us.
“Nevertheless, despite the no pay, the head of departments told us to continue ‘working as normal’ and assured us the issue would be resolved.
“For June, we received partial payments, which were paid in July.
“Ever since that, we have not received payments for the remainder of June, July and now in the current situation, even the August pay is a huge doubt,” the source said.
The individual said they were not given any updates regarding their salary but given only verbal assurances from the head of departments that “it will be paid”.
“Although we work on a piecemeal basis, the salary means a lot to us.
“Some of us, even those working as stringers, depend entirely on the pay,” the source said.
Another source corroborated the matter to The Malaysian Insight, confirming that those working on a piecemeal basis had not been paid.
The source confirmed that several colleagues were facing tough times without getting paid.
The source also alleged that there were instances of them being asked to quit their job if they were not happy.
“A friend of mine, who is on a piecemeal basis, was given two options. Either continue working without pay or leave the job,” the source said.
The source said sometime last week, they received a WhatsApp message claiming that the payment papers had reached the final stages, and that the secretary-general had signed the documents.
“The message said the secretary-general had signed the documents and it has been submitted to the finance ministry.
“Salary payments are expected to be paid no later than the beginning of September this year,” the source said, citing the message that was forwarded.
The source, however, said nothing in writing was given to them to confirm salary payment.
The Malaysian Insight has reached out to Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil for comment but has not received any response.
In 2021, during Muhyiddin Yassin’s leadership, a total of 308 RTM piecemeal workers were appointed as contract officers. – August 19, 2024.
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