KUALA LUMPUR: Former Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd employees are finding it tough to secure new jobs.
Utusan Malaysia pre-press production supervisor Shamsul Rizal Shari, 44, who
has been with the company since 1994, expressed disappointment over the treatment given to employees in light of the shocking shutdown of the Malay daily.
Shamsul and his wife, Mastika Mohamed, 43, who worked with the newspaper as a graphic artist, are now jobless.
To make things worse, the couple have to support four children between the ages of 8 and 17.
“It is not easy for people our age to be employed.
“Who wants a 40-year-old when there are thousands of young graduates out there?
“We are disappointed about the short notice given and the fact that both of us are working for Utusan.
“In the blink of an eye, both of us lost our source of income,” said Shamsul after receiving zakat donation from the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP), here, today.
MAIWP gave RM1,000 each to 25 ex-Utusan employees.
Those with infants also received formula milk and diapers.
Ex-Utusan sub-editor Ariffin Yasin, 53, said the company had yet to pay the last month salary to its 800 employees.
“We are being hounded by banks because we are unable to pay our bills. We are getting calls from banks on a daily basis.
“Imagine living a life where the banks call you every day and each time, I have to explain to them my situation,” he said.
Another graphic artist, Siti Nuratiqah Abdul Jalil, 29, said although there was a perception that it would be easier for someone her age to get another job, her job applications had not been successful.
“I only have a diploma and a limited experience working as a graphic artist in print media, which only requires me to do layout.
“Some companies are looking for other skills which I don’t possess, so, the notion that it’s easy for me to find a job is not true.
“I am currently pursuing my degree which I hope can benefit me.
“But, without a stable income at the moment, I don’t know what will happen.
“Also, I’m the eldest in my family. My father just went through surgery.
“My mother is a housewife.
“So, I have to provide for them and my four siblings,” she said.
Earlier during the event, MAIWP chairman Datuk Seri Syed Hussien Al Habshee said more Utusan employees would be given financial aid pending their application to the Islamic council.
He said at least 40 Utusan employees had been identified as “instant” asnaf (eligible recipients of the tithe).
“We categorised them as instant asnaf because these are the people who have no savings and lost their jobs in the blink of an eye.
“I was crushed when I heard a story of a family having to feed their baby with sirap drink (cordial) instead of milk.
“MAIWP promises to help the Utusan employees as much as we can, but I would like to ask them to please fill up the forms needed.
“This is involving zakat and so, everything must be transparent.
“All we require is for you to fill up some forms and we will provide the rest,” he said.
Utusan officially ceased operations on Wednesday.
All its 862 employees have been told to go on forced leave until Oct 30.
The titles under the Utusan Melayu group which ceased publication on Thursday are Utusan Malaysia, Mingguan Malaysia, and tabloids Kosmo! and Kosmo! Ahad.
On Thursday, Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran said the ministry would be going after Utusan Melayu for shutting down their operations without sufficient notice and leaving its workers in a lurch.