Media Mulia places nearly 100 employees on paid leave during review
The publisher says it will continue printing Utusan Malaysia and Kosmo! as it reassesses operations and its digital priorities.
Media Mulia Sdn Bhd has put nearly 100 employees on paid leave as part of a review covering how the company operates, earns revenue and sets its direction, director and chief financial officer Abd Wahid Idris said.
In a statement carried by Utusan Malaysia on November 2, he said the exercise was intended to keep the business viable as the media industry increasingly shifts towards digital platforms. The company nevertheless intended to maintain print publication for its newspapers’ loyal readers.
Abd Wahid said the leave programme would allow Media Mulia to assess staffing needs and how employees are deployed, alongside its ability to give digital content and news delivery platforms greater priority.
He said the changes would retain the identities and legacy of Utusan Malaysia and Kosmo!, including their editorial character and reporting styles. He also pledged to protect affected employees’ welfare and rights under applicable laws and regulations.
Abd Wahid said the current management had rescued both newspaper brands after their previous owner stopped operating in 2019. He described the adjustments as necessary to avoid a repeat of that outcome.
