One of them is thinking of postponing his marriage while others have turned to delivering pizzas and selling coconuts to make ends meet.

These are among the sad stories which have emerged after the state-owned Radio Television Malaysia ( RTM ) purportedly delayed the salary for more than a hundred of its part-time staff for nearly two months.

"The last time, we were paid half-month salary for December, 2014. According to the management, the outstanding amount would be paid only in March.

"Whereas the January salary would be disbursed by the end of February," one of them told Malaysiakini on the condition of anonymity.

"The management only informed us of this verbally, they did not even have the courtesy to put it down in writing or apologise.

"If we were informed earlier, we would have been better prepared," he added.

According to him, the management had claimed that the government budget has yet to be disbursed and that allocation has been slashed for the Communication and Multimedia Ministry, which runs RTM .

Working '8+8 hours'

Meanwhile, a reporter disclosed that only part-timers were affected.

He said RTM's administrative work is mostly handled by civil servants, but a large number of part-time staff operate in the news and programme departments.

"Broadcasters, reporters, videographers, voice over editors and visual editors are among those affected," he said, adding that those attached with the radio section are in a similar situation.

Apart from salary, the reporter, who declined to be named, said the part-time staff have also been deprived of their overtime payment.

He said editors for the English and Mandarin news sections have to work two shifts that stretch from 6am to 11pm (6pm-2pm or 3pm-11pm) without remuneration.

"Now, the editors have to work '8+8 hours', just to furnish the news for Mandarin at noon and 8pm, as well as English at 12.30pm and 8.30pm," he added.

Sources also claimed that the crime desk has been dissolved and the talk show "Hello On Two" have been scrapped while assignments have been slashed.

As for radio, it has ceased broadcast during the wee hours, mainly from 12am to 6am beginning this year.

We can't afford to sacrifice?

Sharing his grouses, another reporter said: "Boss told us we were affected as the government reduced its allocation. But boss want us to continue to serve and sacrifice. But how to do this? We need to pay bills and feed our families.

"My colleague planned to get married by April, but now he is considering postponing his big day. Some went to work in fast food outlets like Dominos while another is selling coconut,” he added.

The reporter claimed that when some enraged part-timers wanted to take leave until their wages are paid, they were allegedly threatened with dismissal.

"We are a group of professionals working in the country's oldest TV station, but look at how we are treated," he said.

Another staff claimed that the outstanding amount could be disbursed with the January salary since this matter is now being highlighted by the media.

Communication and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said he would look into the matter.

"Will check," he replied in a text message to Malaysiakini.