A DAP parliamentarian has questioned why Bernama TV (BTV) has any shareholders at all as it seems only Bernama seems interested in helping the financially troubled company.

"According to the CEO of BTV (Ibrahim Yahaya), it is Bernama that has been paying the salaries when BTV ran into financial problems. If that is the case, what were the contributions from the rest of shareholders?" asked Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching.

Bernama has a minority share in BTV, and had been paying its wages until it could no longer afford to do so in November.

Instead, the BTV staff, who were last paid on October 20, received RM500 in back pay for the month of November.

The workers have lodged a complaint with the labour department over the matter.

Teo said BTV must pay its staff immediately, as it has breached Section 18 of the Employment Act when it failed to pay wages on time.

She reminded BTV and Bernama, that those found guilty of breaching the act may be fined up to RM10,000.