Former 988 radio host Jamaluddin Ibrahim has lodged a formal complaint with the Industrial Relations Department against Star RFM Sdn Bhd for “unfair dismissal”.

NONE The deejay, popularly known as Jamal ( left ), was on Aug 19 suspended indefinitely  and sacked on Sept 8, after the station received a warning letter from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

Also lodging complaints with the department today were the radio station’s former chief executive officer Wong Lai Ngo and former senior programme manager Tan Chia Yong, who were also terminated.

All three of them were served with their termination letters, which cited complaints from the MCMC, on Sept 8.

“We believe that our dismissals were the result of improper influence exerted by certain politicians as well as abuse of the processes of the MCMC,” they said.

NONE The MCMC in its letter had pointed out that announcers and panelists on the deejay's programme had used “inappropriate language that the listeners found to be offensive”.

The commission also claimed that the station had aired issues and comments that could negatively affect race relations.

Jamal, Wong and Tan described the move as "an attempt to stifle freedom of thought and expression in the country" for the benefit of certain quarters.

Wong later said that it is apparent that their dismissal came after MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek came to power, replacing Ong Tee Keat.

Wong, who has been in the industry for 20 years, added that the MCMC’s letter is not new.

azlan “There are others who get it as well, but it’s not grounds for termination,” she said.

Although disheartened by the incident, Wong said she hopes that they will be reinstated.

Jamal shared her optimism, adding that  the show would only do good for the popular radio station if it was put on air again.

The popular DJ was said to be "threatening national security" during an interview with columnist Ouyang Wen Feng on the Hi Malaysia talk-show in August.

“If there is a political will, the show can be restored, but there should be guidelines on what can be said and what cannot,” said Jamal.

Department to begin concilliation process

Prominent lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan, who acted on behalf of the three, explained that the Industrial Relations Department would begin a concilliation process.

“They will call the employer and complainants to concilliate the dispute but ultimately it’s the minister’s discretion whether we can go to industrial court,” she said.

She hoped that the concilliation will be resolved in a couple of months.

“There has been too much interference in the media and this is tantamount to intimidation of the media,” said the former Bar Council president.

Ambiga added that the South East Asia Legal Defence has also expressed its support for the trio.

Since it involved those from the media profession, Ambiga urged the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) to act on the matter as well.