About 20 Bernama TV staff held a peaceful demonstration in Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday afternoon to demand the salaries owed to them.

The protesters carried banners, one of which read 'Mana Shabery' in reference to Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

Bernama TV is minority-owned by national new agency Bernama , which falls under the purview pf Shabery ( below, right ).

Some 140 staff members were told to take leave because Bernama TV could not pay their salaries.

They were last paid on Dec 24 when the first salary crisis was averted, after Bernama secured funds to pay the wages.

Bernama TV belongs to Bernama TV Synergy Bhd, which is 33-percent owned by Bernama . The rest are owned by private shareholders.

The protesters also stood up for their colleagues, part-time staff at Radio-Television Malaysia (RTM), whose salaries have also not been paid by the national broadcaster.

RTM’s part-time staff are forced to sell coconuts , work at fast food restaurants and delay wedding plans due to the delay in wages.

One placard yesterday read: "BTV, RTM, Lawan tetap lawan (We will fight)".

The protesters also denounced their employers as "cruel".

RTM and BTV are not the only media firms having challenges maintaining their bottom lines.

Last month, Astro Productions, a subsidiary of satellite television provider Astro, laid off 60 employees on a 24-hour notice.

The workers' union said the move was unreasonable but Astro said it was necessary to ensure the firm's viability.

Astro also said that it gave due compensation and adhered to labour laws.

Astro Productions produces television programmes for Astro's in-house channels.