updated version

More than 200 workers, including senior editorial staff and production workers, will be retrenched in stages beginning tomorrow by beleaguered English daily The Sun , making it the biggest round of retrenchments the paper has made since a restructuring exercise began in January.

A Sun editorial staff told malaysiakini that the management had put up a notice to that effect earlier today.

"The notice said that notices of retrenchment will be issued by head of departments from 2pm and all staff on leave have been asked to return to work," said the staff who declined to be named.

"The notice also said that the retrenchment exercise will be done in a professional manner."

National Union of Journalists general secretary Hong Boon How also confirmed that retrenchment exercise will begin tomorrow.

He said he was informed of this by the Sun's management during a meeting earlier today. He however was not sure of the number of staff that will be laid-off.

Another senior editorial staff, who also declined to be named, told malaysiakini that the paper's production facilities may be closed down as well.

"There's talk that the paper's printing will be contracted out," said the staff when asked how the newspaper will be published with the closure of its production department.

Contributors axed

The newspaper had earlier axed 10 contributors as well as several translators and sub-editors. They include former group editor-in-chief of News Straits Times Abdul Kadir Jasin.

Abdul Kadir, who is now national news agency Bernama chairman and Berita Publishing editor-in-chief, began writing a column for the daily a few months ago.

Other major contributors terminated are Malaysian Strategic Research Centre executive director Abdul Razak Baginda and writer Akbar Ali.

Last month, The Sun sacked some 40 staff comprising journalists and non-editorial workers. The first round of retrenchment exercise saw the termination of six of the 10 key NUJ- Sun branch officials. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) have described it as a "union-busting" exercise.

The Sun management has cited economic difficulties and a decision to cut down on manpower in its central region operations as the reasons for the retrenchment and restructure.

It is believed that plans are afoot for the national daily to relaunch itself as a free Klang Valley-based paper, which explains the drastic downsizing of its staff.

This new suburban newspaper is expected to follow the model first developed by The Leader , an English-language weekly distributed free by Utusan Melayu in the Klang Valley in the mid-90s which failed after a few years.

Assassination plot

The Sun , launched in 1994 and owned by Berjaya Group supremo Vincent Tan, has more than 400 employees.

Prior to the first round of retrenchments in January, the newspaper had an editorial staff of about 100 with another 50 journalists stationed in various bureaus nationwide.

Editorial staff have been picketing for the reinstatement of four suspended editorial staff and against a delay in the payment of their bonuses.

The suspensions followed a controversial Christmas Day front-page report of a plot to kill the prime minister and his deputy. The report was picked up by international news agencies and circulated worldwide.

This irked Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who criticised the daily for sensationalist reporting. The Sun suspensions, massive lay-offs, 'restructuring' and general winding-down began soon after.

It was, however, learnt today that the suspension order of the four had been lifted and they have been asked to report to duty tomorrow after which they will be retrenched.

The paper, with a circulation of about 82,000, has suffered an estimated loss of RM200 million since its inception.

Media deal

Fledgling media company, Nexnews Berhad has expressed intentions to take over The Sun .

It was reported to have entered into a memorandum of understanding with Tan to acquire 100 percent stake in Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd publisher of The Sun and also to acquire up to 70 percent of the Edge Communication Sdn Bhd, publisher of popular business weekly The Edge .

The intention by Nexnews came soon after Tan announced on Jan 21 he had purchased a 26.15 percent stake in the former.