KUALA LUMPUR Aug.20: The National Union of Journalists Malaysia, Utusan Melayu branch (NUJ-UM) will stop its weekly picketing plan as the management of Utusan Melayu has decided to pay its members RM2,000 each before Tuesday evening as part payment for the unpaid salary from July to mid-August.
The Chairman of NUJ-UM, Mohd. Taufek Razak said, the salary payment was made following UMNO’s financial aid of RM1.6 million to the company.
“The financial aid was decided after UMNO President, Datuk Seri Dr.Ahmad Zahid Hamidi met the Utusan board of directors in a meeting this morning,” said Taufek to the media in Utusan Headquarters here today.
However, Taufek did not mention the time frame for the company to settle the full payment of the unpaid salaries to the union members.
Meanwhile, Utusan’s management has decided to continue publishing its two dailies Utusan Malaysia and Kosmo! – contrary to the media reports that said the newspapers will end its publication on Wednesday.
Utusan Executive Chairman, Datuk Abd. Aziz Sheikh Fadzir said, the 80-year-old company will continue publishing its daily newspaper especially Utusan Malaysia that has contributed too much to the nation-building.
“The newspaper has triggered and inspired the people to get independence, promoted bahasa Melayu to be the official language and Islam as the prime religion.
“For those who have the national sentiments and appreciate the roles that have been played by Utusan newspaper please continue buying it to support its sustainability,” urged Aziz to the ardent readers at a press conference in Utusan office today.
In order to continue its business in the print media industry, Utusan has decided to increase the price of Utusan Malaysia from RM1.50 to RM2.00 per copy while Kosmo! RM1 to RM1.50.
