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Sunday, December 14, 2014

WHAT A MESS-UP: Bernama TV staff in shock after being told it may now close shop

WHAT A MESS-UP: Bernama TV staff in shock after being told it may now close shop
Already suffering from only partial salary since late October, Bernama TV (BTV) staff are now in shock after being warned that the company may close down, if losses continue.
A BTV employee conveyed to Malaysiakini that Bernama general manager Zulkefli Salleh told BTV workers in a meeting on Friday the station may cease operations if it continues making losses.
In the meeting, the employee said Zulkefli, however, assured them that closing down BTV would be a last resort, and that enough notice would be given should that happen.
The employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, says the company should look out for its own workers.
"If BTV closes down, it means Bernama didn't do its job. They have to work hard to protect us," the employee said.
Despite being worried, he remained optimistic that the government would rescue BTV before it can close down.
Others, however, were more pessimistic about their job security.
"Some staff who did not attend the meeting asked me if (the announcement meant) the GM was indirectly asking them to resign.
“We are all very worried, and can't even focus on our jobs," said another staff member.
BTV staff last week refused to go back to work over not being paid their full salaries, despite the company giving them a partial back payment.
Meant to ‘motivate’ workers
When asked on Saturday to clarify his remarks, Zulkefli said he was merely posing a question the staff.
"The idea is to motivate them to work harder so that the TV can get more viewers and can make some profit," Zulkefli said when contacted.
"The company (BTV) is alive because we the minority (shareholder) – Bernama – are keeping the company alive.
"The other three funders, they are not involved at all now. In fact, they have sort of abandoned the company.
“In the past three to four years, they have not spent anything on the company," Zulkefli (left) said.
Bernama holds a 33 percent stake in BTV, which is privately owned by Bernama TV Synergy Bhd.
The Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) records, last updated in 2012, show the remaining 67 percent are owned by three private companies, including Silver Ridge (Multimedia) Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Silver Ridge Sdn Bhd.
Silver Ridge is chaired by Umno Senator Suhaimi Abdullah, and according to the CCM record, he also holds one share in BTV.
'BTV never filed returns'
In a statement released on Friday, Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching questioned if Suhaimi’s influence is behind why BTV has gotten away with "never (filing) the annual returns to the Registrar of Companies together with their audited financial reports.”
A check on BTV records with CCM confirms that it has not filed any returns.
Failure to file annual returns is a breach of Section 169 of the Companies Act 1965, and is punishable with imprisonment for five years, or a fine of RM30,000.
When contacted, Suhaimi who is BTV's former CEO told Malaysiakini he is no longer affiliated with the company.
"I have not been involved in BTV for many years. During Rais (Yatim)’s time, he had taken it (the shares) back. Maybe they did not register this," he said when contacted.
He was referring to former information minister Rais Yatim's move to put Bernama in charge of BTV's operations back in 2011.
Suhaimi also said that Silver Ridge's shares in BTV has also been disposed of, and a check on its Bursa Malaysia company record confirms this.
Silver Ridge's 2013 annual report states that the company "has disposed of Silver Ridge (Multimedia) Sdn Bhd (“SRMSB”) in May 2013 for RM1. Upon disposal of SRMSB, the company no longer hold an associate stake in Bernama-TV Synergy Sdn Bhd." - M'kini

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