TV Al Hijrah to promote new medium in Islamic propagation

KUALA LUMPUR: TV Al Hijrah, Malaysia's first Islamic television station, is set to further promote the new medium in Islamic propagation in line with current needs, according to the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), operator of the station.

The station, to be officially launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Tuesday, will open up more opportunities for those involved in the creative industry, said Jakim director-general Datuk Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abd Aziz.

"Jakim hopes that through cooperation from missionaries and arts activists, the station will emerge as the top Islamic propagation station in the region," he said.

Viewers can tune in to TV Al Hijrah in the Klang Valley on UHF CH 55 (at 743.25 MHz frequency), Terengganu on UHF CH 41 (631.25 MHz), Johor on CH 40 (623.25 MHz), Sarawak on CH 37 (599.25 MHz) and Sabah on CH 37 (599.25 MHz).

Wan Mohamad said the station would have a major impact in terms of Islamic propagation on the global community and, at the same time, offer healthy competition among the media in the country and set an example for the region.

"Jakim feels that television station operators and the media in the country should not take lightly the power of viewership, which can influence the market vibrancy of the world of broadcasting," he said.

He said viewer sensitivity towards shows which were contrary to noble values and Islamic beliefs demonstrated that viewers in Malaysia would not fall for useless content.

"Therefore, station operators and producers cannot assume that only Western shows are of quality and should be the benchmark for production of programmes," he said.

He said TV Al Hijrah would portray an Islamic image which could become the benchmark for an exemplary television station in the country and region. - Bernama