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| Abdul Karim poses for a group photo at the event. |
KOTA SAMARAHAN: Alleged guidelines forbidding RTM to provide coverage for states under opposition rule are narrow minded and subvert Radio Television Malaysia’s (RTM) original purpose, says Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He was referring to former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s Facebook post, which alleged that there were guidelines regarding the coverage and broadcast for states under opposition rule, thus claiming there was no media freedom under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
Abdul Karim said RTM was an agency meant to unite and not to split the people.
“In Sarawak, most of the state government programmes are to unite the prople but there isn’t any coverage (by RTM) just because it is a state government function or event.
“To me, this is such narrow minded thinking.
“Even though Sarawak is under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and is not a party that subscribes to the federal government, we still sing the same National Anthem, Negaraku,” says Abdul Karim in his speech at the Kota Samarahan Police District Headquarter Chinese New Year event at Dewan Suarah here last night.
Citing a Visit Sarawak Campaign recently, he said promoting tourism for Sarawak is also promoting Malaysia but because Sarawak is an opposition state, RTM did not cover the event because the minister (referring to Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo) is from the opposition state.
“If they think tourism is also politics, the way the government of the day thinks is narrow minded”.
However, Gobind has reiterated that his ministry did not issue any directives or guidelines to RTM on the coverage of states under opposition rule.
Abdul Karim added that it was understandable that there won’t be any coverage by RTM for programmes such as a GPS roadshow.
“If it is a GPS roadshow or anything political, it is fine that there is no coverage.
“But if it is a programme which promotes unity like Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Gawai Dayak and Christmas celebrations, RTM should be doing the coverage because that is why RTM was established in the first place,” he said. -TheBorneoPost
He was referring to former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s Facebook post, which alleged that there were guidelines regarding the coverage and broadcast for states under opposition rule, thus claiming there was no media freedom under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
Abdul Karim said RTM was an agency meant to unite and not to split the people.
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| VISIT SARAWAK CAMPAIGN |
“To me, this is such narrow minded thinking.
“Even though Sarawak is under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and is not a party that subscribes to the federal government, we still sing the same National Anthem, Negaraku,” says Abdul Karim in his speech at the Kota Samarahan Police District Headquarter Chinese New Year event at Dewan Suarah here last night.
Citing a Visit Sarawak Campaign recently, he said promoting tourism for Sarawak is also promoting Malaysia but because Sarawak is an opposition state, RTM did not cover the event because the minister (referring to Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo) is from the opposition state.
“If they think tourism is also politics, the way the government of the day thinks is narrow minded”.
However, Gobind has reiterated that his ministry did not issue any directives or guidelines to RTM on the coverage of states under opposition rule.
Abdul Karim added that it was understandable that there won’t be any coverage by RTM for programmes such as a GPS roadshow.
“If it is a GPS roadshow or anything political, it is fine that there is no coverage.
“But if it is a programme which promotes unity like Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Gawai Dayak and Christmas celebrations, RTM should be doing the coverage because that is why RTM was established in the first place,” he said. -TheBorneoPost
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