KUCHING, Aug 11: Sarawak Dayak Iban Association Rajang branch (Sadia-Rajang) wants the return of statewide radio broadcast of WaiFM, a popular radio station that many listeners tuned in to for entertainment, news and important announcements.
Sadia-Rajang’s deputy chairman Tuah Lumpoh said it had received many complaints from members of the public who noticed that they were listening to only localised broadcast since early August 2020.
“This means listeners in Miri for instance, can only listen to broadcasts from Miri radio station but not from other stations state-wide.
“We also demand the return of a few popular radio programs such as ‘Jerita Tuai’ and other similar programmes that exhibit and revive the culture of the indigenous people in Sarawak namely related to the Iban, Melanau, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu communities,” Tuah said today.
He asserted that if WaiFM was not resumed as usual, RTM Sarawak would lose its appeal and would only remain a one-sided tool of information dissemination.
Meanwhile, the chairman of Sadia-Rajang, Bill Jugah reminded government-owned RTM to abide by the principles of the United Nations Declaration On The Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
“Article 16(2) says that states must ensure that State-owned media duly reflect indigenous cultural diversity without prejudice to ensuring full freedom of expression.
“Perhaps, it is prudent and wise to gather feedback from loyal listeners to comply the basis of Free, Prior, Informed Consent (FPIC) before embarking on a hastily-made decision which reflects poor governance of a government-owned agency. In such a case, any decision made should be a collective decision, not the sole decision of any one person,” added Bill.—DayakDaily
