Settling footballers' unpaid salaries with 'duit kutu'?
That is how current and former players of Kelantan Darul Naim (KDN) described the attempt by the team management to settle months of salaries owing to them.
KDN midfielder Jasmir Mehat voiced his frustration over the club's offer, which includes a 50 per cent cut from the three months of unpaid salary, monthly instalments of RM200 until the debt is settled, and match-based payments of RM500-RM1,000 for only five matches between Feb and April.
"We're not asking for anything extra. We want what we've earned, but being told we'll be paid RM200 a month feels like we're not being taken seriously," said Jasmir.
"At that rate, some of us would have to wait nearly a decade to be paid in full. It doesn't feel fair or respectful to professionals who gave their commitment to the team."
Jasmir added that the players were open to discussions, but the solutions offered so far showed a lack of genuine intention to resolve the matter quickly or reasonably, and equated it to paying with "duit kutu".
Meanwhile, former KDN head coach Rezal Zambery Yahya said that nearly 20 former players and staff have rejected the club's proposed terms and given KDN until tomorrow to respond before raising the matter with the FA of Malaysia.
"We're not water filter salesmen who can be paid RM200 a month until the debt is cleared," said Rezal.
"Paying per match doesn't make sense either because there's no such clause in our contracts. Despite that, we've offered them more practical solutions. It's up to them now to be reasonable."
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