Journalists from The Sun today expressed concern over the increasing number of layoffs in the wake of a controversial news report alleging a plot to kill Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The daily's National Union of Journalists branch chairperson K Kannan told malaysiakini that journalists were troubled by the termination letters issued to their colleagues over the past week.

According to him, close to 10 editorial staff have already been sacked.

"This has a great impact on the journalists. They have to face layoffs of people around them," Kannan said during a picket organised by Sun journalists this afternoon.

The terminations, which affected mostly those hired on contract, are believed to part of the ailing company's cost-cutting exercise.

Meanwhile, the fate of four suspended journalists remain unclear.

Reporter R Manirajan and photographer Anita Md Nasir were suspended following a report alleging that Mahathir and his deputy, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, were the targets of an assassination plot.

Two other editorial staff - chief news editor Robert Ho and managing editor Chong Cheng Hai - have also been suspended indefinitely.

The four journalists were suspended after top editors were summoned to the Home Ministry to explain the Dec 25 news report on the alleged assassination plot. This was followed by a front-page apology to Mahathir and Abdullah.

Unpaid contractual bonuses

At the picket outside the newspaper's office today, around 40 journalists held placards calling for the reinstatement of Manirajan and Anita, as well as the payment of their two-month contractual bonus which was scheduled for release last month and in February.

NUJ president Norila Md Daud, who was present at the picket, warned of legal action if The Sun management did not heed the journalists' call for the disbursement of the agreed bonus.

"We have written a letter to the management today asking them for a quick response and an immediate meeting on the matter. But if they don't comply, then we might have to take them to the Industrial Court," Norila said.

She said the union is holding pickets to put pressure on the embattled media company.

According to Norila, the management would be in breach of its employment contract if they failed to pay the bonuses.

"It looks bad for the industry if they don't pay the bonuses. On one hand, you are asking them to work and on the other you are denying them of their right to their bonuses," she added

Also present to give their support were the union's general secretary Hong Boon How and Malaysian Trades Union Congress secretary-general G Rajasekaran.

Today's was the fourth in a series of pickets by The Sun journalists that began on Dec 31 last year. The journalists have vowed to continue holding pickets in the coming days.