Quoting lack of support from the Malays and government-linked companies as well as serious financial issues allegedly suffered by the newspaper, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) wants Umno to consider letting go of Utusan Malaysia.

This is part of a restructuring move that the union believed that the Malay daily must go through to return it to profitability.

"In relation to that the NUJ proposes that Umno and other major shareholders discuss how to breathe new life into Utusan, including allowing another party to take over the shares," said the NUJ in a statement today.

In the meantime, NUJ also wants Umno to allow for an independent audit to look out for any leakages in the media company it currently controls.

Though NUJ said that in this matter they do not blame Utusan's top management, which to them seem to be working hard to ensure the paper's survival.

"But senior management at Utusan did not follow suit, and efforts to reinvigorate company revenue were half-hearted.

"Furthermore, needed support from the Malays, GLCs and ministries to help Utusan fell short," read the NUJ statement.

The union argued that the lack of proper support, falling revenues and a slew of lost legal battles which saw the daily having to pay millions in damages or settlement required that Utusan be restructured or risk more complications.

The NUJ noted that at present Utusan had twice delayed payment of its staff salary.

The union offers itself as a third party to meet up the paper's major shareholders to discuss a solution for the survival of the daily and its employees.

Utusan has been plagued with a series of losing court battles which saw it having to pay millions to public figures over defamatory or erroneous reporting.

The Malay daily has also been hit with plummeting circulation and advertising revenue, which could be the cause behind its alleged delay in paying its staff.