A blogger for a certain political party has claimed that his employers have shortchanged him in RM24,370 in salary accumulated since 2008, for various reasons.

Sinar Harian reported today that Ahmad Faisal Mohd Yunos, 44, had complained to the Malay daily’s office in Ayer Keroh, Malacca of his predicament.

Ahmad Faisal said he was appointed as a special officer and IT unit chief at the office of a certain party, unnamed in the report, and that he had also been engaged to blog for the party.

He said that he had received an appointment letter on May 13, 2008, that stated a monthly salary of RM3,000.

However, the party had underpaid him RM1,000 every month from his first paycheck, amounting to about RM38,000 over a period of 38 months.  

“However, after the office management was replaced by other individuals early last year, my salary was withheld from May 2011, without any notice and reason,” he was quoted saying.

Two months later, in July he was given a termination notice, which he accepted on condition that the unpaid amount is settled.

According to Ahmad Faisal, after much insistence, the political party paid him RM11,330 on Dec 20 last year, after deducting RM2,300 he had borrowed.

“But the remaining RM24,370 has yet to be paid, and they are giving excuses that it was deducted off the costs of the equipment I had been supplied with when I was their staff,” he said, referring to three laptops, a compact camera and several other pieces of equipment of “small value”.

He added that he is prepared to return the equipment provided his salary is settled in full.