A Malaysian jobseeker has sparked debate online after claiming they were asked to pay a RM2,650 penalty for withdrawing from a job offer before reporting for work.
The individual shared their experience on Threads, alleging that the company demanded payment within one month and warned that legal action would be taken if the amount was not settled.
According to the post, the jobseeker had already signed the company’s letter of appointment but decided to withdraw after receiving an unexpected offer to further their studies before their first day of work.
The individual acknowledged that the employment agreement contained a penalty clause. They were originally scheduled to report for duty on August 3, while their studies were set to begin on August 15.
In a later update, the jobseeker claimed they contacted an officer from the Labour Department (JTK) for advice.
According to the post, the officer allegedly advised them to ignore the company’s demand and allow the employer to pursue legal action if it wished to do so.
The jobseeker further claimed they were told there was no attendance record showing they had ever worked for the company, despite signing the employment contract, and that their withdrawal did not cause any financial loss to the employer.
However, the alleged advice from the Labour Department could not be independently verified.
The post has since attracted more than 101,000 views, with netizens divided over whether the penalty is legally enforceable.
Some believed the company would be unlikely to pursue legal action because court proceedings could cost more than the RM2,650 penalty.
Others argued that a signed employment agreement may still be legally binding, particularly if the penalty clause was clearly stated.
Several commenters advised the jobseeker to formally withdraw from the position via email, attach the university offer letter as supporting evidence, and seek proper legal advice before deciding whether to ignore the company’s demand.
