New TV channel for Sabah and Sarawak

KUCHING: New television channel TVi, specifically meant for Sabah and Sarawak, is an initiative by the Federal Government and the governments of the two states to bring about a deeper understanding of the people in them, says Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim.

The Information, Communi-cations, Arts and Culture Minis-ter said this would also help further promote the 1Malaysia concept among Malaysians, especially in the peninsula.

“Programmes that highlight life in Sabah and Sarawak, culture and songs of the various ethnic groups in them, documentaries, history and plans in store for these two states will be showcased through TVi,” he said at a meet-the-people session in Kampung Lintang here yesterday.

TVi (TV Interaktif) will be launched at Auditorium Angka-sapuri Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) here on April 10 by Rais and will be available on Astro’s Channel 180, which is now broadcasting Muzik Aktif.

Earlier, Rais, accompanied by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission chairman Tan Sri Khalid Ramli, Special Affairs Department director-general Datuk Fuad Hassan and Broadcasting director-general Datuk Norhyati Ismail, had a walkabout around Satok here and mingled with the public in Jalan Market before heading for Kampung Lintang situated across Sarawak River by boat.

Rais also told Kampung Lintang residents that the kampung would get high speed wireless Internet access soon (turned into a Wi-Fi kampung).

He received thunderous applause when making the announcement.

At the same time, he urged Kampung Lintang residents to appreciate the contributions of the state and Federal governments and not be influenced by empty promises made by the Opposition.

He added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Malaysians could look forward to a brighter future ahead. — Bernama