GEORGE TOWN: Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) has been asked to submit a report for not broadcasting a minister’s speech during live coverage of the national Chinese New Year dinner attended by the Prime Minister in Seremban on Sunday.
According to Bernama, Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo said he had made the request and was waiting for the report before he could act on the allegation that the government broadcasting station attempted to sabotage the minister.
“Once I have the report, I will take what (action) is necessary,” he said at a press conference after the launch of YTL Communication and Facebook’s Terragraph market pilot first in Asia here.
The 2019 Chinese New Year open house was held at Dataran Centrio in Seremban on Sunday.
Lim Swee Kuan, an aide to Transport Minister Anthony Loke, pointed out that RTM had not broadcast the minister’s speech.
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and several Cabinet ministers had also attended the event.
When asked if it was obligatory for RTM to broadcast any speech by a minister, Gobind said it was live coverage.
“It is not about print; it is about live coverage. This is why I’ve asked RTM to let me know, in particular, when there was a request for them to cover the event and what the terms and standard operating procedures were.
“I think these are the things that I have to look at before I comment on it,” he added.
Lim said besides Loke, RTM did not broadcast the speech of Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.
“What is this if not sabotage? Heads must roll over the highly possible sabotage against the government administration.
“I demand an explanation from state-owned RTM,” he said in a Facebook post on Sunday night.
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