Hundreds leaving Media Prima

Media Prima Bhd, the largest media group in the country, is expected to see a shake-up in its management as hundreds of staff members are leaving the company next week under a mutual separation scheme (MSS).

Staff from all levels in the company, from journalists to people in the top management, have taken up the offer given under the company’s downsizing programme.

Among those leaving are ntv7 and 8TV head of Mandarin News Raymond Tan Chin Tuan, Mandarin current affairs executive editor Tan Boon Kooi, and news-gathering executive editor of the two TV stations, Tham Chooi Foong, reliable sources told online news portal Malaysiakini today.

These three are the key leaders in the Mandarin news and current affairs divisions of ntv7 and 8TV.

ntv7 billingual news anchor Melissa Ong also confirmed in aFacebook postingthat her application for MSS has been accepted by the company.

Monday, Dec 15, will be their last day in the company for those who have accepted the MSS offer, the source said.

According to its website, Media Prima currently "owns 100 percent equity interest in TV3, 8TV, ntv7 and TV9" and "owns more than 98 percent equity interest in The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Bhd " (NSTP).

The group also owns Malay dailies Berita Harian and Harian Metroand three radio networks - Fly FM, Hot FM and One FM.

Staff who choose to take up the offer will be paid compensation equivalent to one-and-a-half times their length of service in years multiplied by their last drawn basic salary.

Staff near retirement age will get a compensation based on their last drawn basic salary multiplied by the number of months to retirement.

Malaysiakini is trying to contact Media Prima Bhd to confirm this and seek its comments

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