Source Harapandaily

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: This matter has been dwelling in my head for a good part of this year – whether I should or not, but in the end the interests of a profession rather than how a few individuals may react, is deemed more important so I shall pen this note of appeal to the government of the day.

I am compelled to address the plight facing the local journalists – the working-class ones, as it has come to my attention many of them continued to be abused at work – they are not getting salaries as per labour law (meaning on time) and their statutory declarations are also left unfulfilled.

It is disheartening to note that in this age of transparency and accountability, the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) besides the Social Security Organisation (Sosco) can allow errant employers not to contribute, more so for those in the journalism occupation.

In some cases, the abuse has continued unattended for several months.

And journalists, who are already busy trying to file fast yet accurate and meaningful content, have to take a backseat and find time to pursue the matter with IRB, EPF and Sosco.

As the saying goes, two wrongs do not make a right.

Here, we have errant employers, who failed to fulfil the basic common obligations of employment – contributing the statutory declarations of their workers.

And now such owners are allowed a leeway because the enforcement divisions of key government organisations such as the income tax, retirement fund and social security, somehow cannot find the time and space to reprimand such persons.

And the errant ones then hide under the guise of a myriad of companies in trying to evade action.

Instead, the victims – the journalists were allegedly pestered to fill up forms and just wait.

And why the long wait when the evidence is there for action to be taken on the spot?

Isn’t the concept of Madani (civil and responsible) conduct inherently adopted by the likes of EPF, IRB and Sosco?

Recently, it was also brought to my attention that a journalist had begged in a chat room for the employer to settle wages as the person needed money to purchase infant formula milk.

In this day and age, such circumstances should not have materialised in the first place.

The government of the day has a duty to act on this – in the past some journalists could be courted to become one’s ally or allies, but this is a noble profession – part and parcel of how well a government performs in unison with the check and balancing system in any country advocating democracy.

Sure, have one’s cronies but ensure that the cronies settle the wages of those they employ.

Journalists ably employed, have a code of conduct and ethics to become the truth army out to battle the fake news peddlers out there, especially the social media machinations by out – writing and providing accounts based on facts and figures, and not the half-truth or outright slander.

They are also threatened or intimidated by the authorities or influential persons such as politicians with lawsuits, just to suit the latter’s selfish political agenda.

Now, their basic wages are not paid under the watch of a government with Madani principles.

Common lah! the government can do better and stop waiting for a media council to be formed when it would likely be filled up by elite journalists trying to come across as genuine practitioners, but insiders know they are nothing more than imposters trying to fake their way through.

Those fake journalists can easily afford to buy millions of infant milk formula.

The plight of the working-class journalists in this country needs more attention other than face value commitments – they need reforms to be executed throughout the field from appointing those who have the ability to carry out such reforms to those who are sincere about helping their peers.

In memory of two veteran journalists, who were forced to work as security guards for decades before they passed on, this note is also an informal tribute to those who continue to struggle in their profession in an age where the pen is no longer mightier because now everybody can post.

I shall not name them out of respect to their families and peers but in their honour, the struggle to right the wrongs being inflicted on the profession here needs to be carried on.

The government should start regulating – media owners whether traditional or online must be screened and permits issued to those who want to be part of the righteous media, not the imposters.

It starts with the owners – they must be genuine and have sustainable business models before they are allowed to hire any accredited journalists.

If they do not know how to sustain or at least make operating costs, they have no business being in the news business.

Then those serving in decision – making positions must be those who have plans to help the industry not their political masters, families or their cronies.

It seems that a cartel has enveloped the industry with the same familiar individuals at the helm of many news organisations – the platforms may have changed but the agenda remains the same – “control content by controlling the journalists.”

In the past, journalists accepted this formula just as long as they were paid, not some are not even getting their wages.

But as the 1MDB scandal has proven, the truth has a way of filtering out – it may take longer than the usual but, in the end, the truth will reign directly or indirectly, especially in a profession where one is trained to speak, sing, dance and write the truth – it is the code of journalism ethics.

So, for the national unity government, please unite the journalists and help those who really need it.