Malaysiakini forms union for journalists under NUJ

Malaysiakini has established its own union branch as part of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).

A pioneer in online news in the country, Malaysiakini has once again paved the way, this time as the first news portal to form a union under NUJ.

The announcement and induction of the new branch were made at an NUJ event in Maya Hotel, Kuala Lumpur today.

The branch’s pro-tem chairperson Haspaizi Zain and NUJ president Farah Marshita Abdul Patah signed the memorandum between Malaysiakini and NUJ.

It was witnessed by deputy mission head of the EU delegation to Malaysia Timo Goosmann.

In a speech after the signing, Haspaizi said the establishment of the union is just another extension of Malaysiakini’s fight for press freedom.

“Now we are looking towards fighting for the journalists’ rights,” he added.

The memorandum, he said, also formalised the camaraderie that had long existed between journalists from mainstream media and news portals.

“We can see this when we stand up for each other while politicians and the public attack and insult journalists on the job and when their livelihood is threatened,” added Haspaizi, who is a journalist with Malaysiakini’s Malay language desk.

Other portals urged to join NUJ

Meanwhile, Farah said the inclusion of the Malaysiakini union branch will end the disparity between mainstream news organisations and portals.

“All of us will now be under one umbrella. We hope that many more portals will join us,” she added.

The Malaysiakini branch will see about 26 non-executive editorial members join the national union.

Along with the signing of the memorandum, there was also a forum held on the mental health and occupational safety of journalists.

The forum featured speakers from the Occupational Safety and Health Department, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health as well as the Mental Illness Awareness and Support Association.

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