KOTA KINABALU – The New Sabah Times will publish its final edition on December 31, following an announcement that it will cease operations.
The English-language newspaper’s staff will be paid three months’ salary not inclusive of their December wages, after a meeting was held on Thursday.
The company will also pay for employees’ remaining unpaid leave.
No severance package is offered.
Around 50 staff will be out of work at year-end, as well as another 20 from various outlets across the state.
New Sabah Times acting managing director Felix Gusti cited massive losses as the main reason for the closure, and said the lack of funds has rendered the company incapable of offering more compensation to workers.
This is the paper’s second closure. Previously, it was known as The Sabah Times.
The outlet was founded by Sabah’s first chief minister, Tun Fuad Stephens.
It is hailed as one of the state’s “historic” newspapers, with the other being The Daily Express. – The Vibes, December 12, 2020
