By INS Contributors

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Approximately 15 employees of Petra News Sdn Bhd, the publisher of news portals The Malaysian Insight, The Vibes, and Getaran, are demanding the immediate payment of their Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Monthly Tax Deductions (PCB), and Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) contributions for 2024.

A review of their records with EPF, LHDN, and SOCSO revealed that while statutory deductions had been made from their salaries, Petra News Sdn Bhd had failed to remit both employee and employer contributions to the relevant authorities. Employees have documented proof of these deductions in their monthly payslips.

Upon discovering the discrepancies, affected staff lodged a police report at the Travers police station in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, on February 14, 2025.

Despite making these deductions, the company has failed to fulfill its legal obligation to submit payments, effectively withholding employees’ statutory contributions illegally. This failure has caused financial distress for employees, including loan application rejections due to uncredited EPF contributions. Employees also fear facing penalties from LHDN when filing their income tax returns.

In light of these violations, the employees of The Malaysian Insight, The Vibes, and Getaran demand that Petra News Sdn Bhd immediately settle all outstanding EPF, PCB, and SOCSO contributions for 2024 in accordance with legal requirements.

Beyond unremitted statutory contributions, employees have also faced delays in salary payments since 2024. Affected staff have lodged a separate complaint with the Department of Labour (Jabatan Tenaga Kerja, JTK) under the Human Resources Ministry, which is currently investigating the matter.

However, despite multiple scheduled hearings, Petra News Sdn Bhd has failed to attend (some), refused to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), and violated prior agreement - for a few complainants- undermining the credibility of the system.

Despite these serious breaches, no enforcement action has been taken against Petra News Sdn Bhd or its owner.

At this juncture, the staff would also like to express their gratitude to Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil for stepping forward to assist the affected employees since this issue was brought to light.

However, till date many employees continue to struggle with the financial burden caused by the irresponsible actions of the owner.

Given the urgency of this matter, the staff of The Malaysian Insight, The Vibes, and Getaran urge the relevant ministries and authorities to take immediate action against Petra News Sdn Bhd to ensure compliance with labor laws and protect employees’ financial security.

<*This press release is issued by the staff of The Malaysian Insight, The Vibes, and Getaran.*