According to Malaysiakini, newsreader Sydney Yap said the Mandarin news segment was seeing less air time due to a lack of staff, which she claimed was caused by low wages and bureaucracy in hiring new employees.

She also claimed the team had dwindled to just three people from eight previously.

Malaysiakini quoted Bernama as saying Yap’s comments, which were published in a Facebook post, had tarnished the image of the state-owned agency and even the government.

It dismissed her claim that staff at the Mandarin broadcast unit were facing pay cuts, saying Bernama acquired the unit from a private firm in 2019 and had offered new contracts.

“All staff absorbed into Bernama agreed to the wages offered during the interview process. They were also offered increments every time their contracts were extended,” it reportedly said in a statement.

It confirmed that the unit was experiencing a shortage of workers, which was why the Mandarin programme was only aired five days a week compared to seven previously.

However, Bernama said the manpower shortage was an industry-wide issue for Mandarin broadcasters.

Bernama chairman Ras Adiba Radzi told Malaysiakini that she had received a report on the matter.

Meanwhile, media advocacy group Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) said news agencies should discuss proposed cost-cutting measures, whether pay cuts or salary freezes, with employees first in order to reach an amicable solution.

It added that the issues raised by Yap were the general reality in the local media industry, especially post-pandemic.