Media Mulia puts nearly 100 staff on paid leave amid restructuring

Media Mulia, the publishing house behind two of Malaysia's established newspapers, has placed nearly 100 employees on paid leave, marking the latest move in a series of restructuring efforts at the company. The decision affects a significant portion of the publisher's workforce but comes with assurances that both Utusan Malaysia and Kosmo! will continue their print operations without disruption. Media Mulia confirmed the paid leave arrangement but provided limited additional details about the duration or scope of the measure. The move reflects broader challenges facing traditional print media in Southeast Asia, where publishers have grappled with declining advertising revenues and shifting reader preferences toward digital platforms. Utusan Malaysia, founded in 1939, remains one of the region's oldest continuously published newspapers, while Kosmo! has established itself as a prominent tabloid publication in the Malaysian market.