KUCHING, May 25: Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah questions the rationale of Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) for blacking out news of the Sarawak government.
He claimed a number of federal agencies have stopped cooperating with the state government, where not only did the state ministerial functions did not receive air-time, but information concerning their programmes and activities was not even disseminated.
“Personally, I think this should not be the way. If our Chief Minister or other ministers from Barisan Nasional have functions that are apolitical, RTM should be impartial and publish the news,” Abdul Karim told DayakDaily yesterday.
He claimed that since Pakatan Harapan won the general election, RTM has not been airing any function news of the Sarawak government, which is now an opposition state government.
He also alleged that the usual 7am RTM news programme has also ceased to broadcast any function news related to the Sarawak government.
“RTM and policy makers must understand that it is their responsibility to build up a nation of integrity and integration.
“Sarawak should not be penalised by national media just because we are in the opposition,” said Abdul Karim.
He said such “polarisation” notion of “if you are not for us, you are against us” of some policy makers was “not healthy”,
“We are Malaysians and in our Chief Minister’s functions, however simple the function, we start with the singing of ‘Negaraku’” (the national anthem). We are still part of the country,” said Abdul Karim. — DayakDaily
