Johan Jaafar, a former Utusan group chief editor, also alleged that the management only looked at the business interests even though more than 800 employees lost their jobs in an instant.
“What happened is that the company is winding up via voluntary liquidation. Whoever is working with the holding company Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad, is deemed to have lost his post. All assets under the company will be sold to settle debts.
“In this process, what is saved is the brand name and newspaper licence but welfare was not given any consideration. It was strictly for business. In my opinion, they should think of other options,” he told reporters after attending a workshop on Media and Politics held at Parliament House today.
Johan was personally saddened at the fate of the country’s oldest Malay-language newspaper.
“So there are no other ways to take back all the workers. It is something very sad as the 80-year-old newspaper company is closed down while the welfare of the staff was not given due consideration.
Utusan Group, which comprises the newspapers Utusan Malaysia, Mingguan Malaysia, Kosmo! and Kosmo! Ahad and various magazines under a subsidiary ceased operations on Wednesday following a board decision to go into voluntary liquidation. Staff were told to clear out by 1pm that day.