RTM's prerogative to decide on guests for its programmes, says Shabery
Bernama (10/7/08): Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) has the right to decide on whom to invite for live programmes or recordings aired by its radio and television stations, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Thursday.
He said RTM practised an open policy and gave coverage to all menteris besar and chief ministers based on the news value, be it for news programmes or talkshows.
"I myself, as information minister, have not been called for a live interview up to now, meaning that I leave it to RTM to do whatever it deems fit," he said in reply to Ahmad Kassim (PKR-Kuala Kedah) in the Dewan Rakyat.
Ahmad Kassim wanted to know whether RTM would give air time to menteris besar and chief ministers of states ruled by Pakatan Rakyat to explain their policies to the people.
Ahmad Shabery said he believed in the same principle and RTM was willing to invite parties which it felt were suitable for a particular programme, including leaders from opposition parties.
"The question of when to invite does not arise. I leave that to RTM," he said, citing as example that in the recent issue on fuel price increase the MP for Kubang, Salahuddin Ayub of PAS, was invited for the debate with the relevant minister.
"Not only was he invited but the reporter from Harakah (the PAS organ) was also invited to ask questions but an hour before the programme the Harakah (repoter) did not turn up, no representative was sent. It was Harakah that was unprofessional, not RTM," he said.
Asked whether RTM would telecast live the debate between him and Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the fuel price increase on July 15, he said it was organised by news portal Agenda Daily and not RTM.
To a question from Datuk Lilah Yasin (BN- Jempol) on what powers the Information Minister had on private television stations which were viewed as not giving coverage to Barisan Nasional menteris besar and chief ministers in their 8pm news, he said the private radio and television stations were not under the control of the Information Ministry.
However, he said, they should use their wisdom in accordance with the set guidelines in formulating programmes for airing.
He said RTM practised an open policy and gave coverage to all menteris besar and chief ministers based on the news value, be it for news programmes or talkshows.
"I myself, as information minister, have not been called for a live interview up to now, meaning that I leave it to RTM to do whatever it deems fit," he said in reply to Ahmad Kassim (PKR-Kuala Kedah) in the Dewan Rakyat.
Ahmad Kassim wanted to know whether RTM would give air time to menteris besar and chief ministers of states ruled by Pakatan Rakyat to explain their policies to the people.
Ahmad Shabery said he believed in the same principle and RTM was willing to invite parties which it felt were suitable for a particular programme, including leaders from opposition parties.
"The question of when to invite does not arise. I leave that to RTM," he said, citing as example that in the recent issue on fuel price increase the MP for Kubang, Salahuddin Ayub of PAS, was invited for the debate with the relevant minister.
"Not only was he invited but the reporter from Harakah (the PAS organ) was also invited to ask questions but an hour before the programme the Harakah (repoter) did not turn up, no representative was sent. It was Harakah that was unprofessional, not RTM," he said.
Asked whether RTM would telecast live the debate between him and Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the fuel price increase on July 15, he said it was organised by news portal Agenda Daily and not RTM.
To a question from Datuk Lilah Yasin (BN- Jempol) on what powers the Information Minister had on private television stations which were viewed as not giving coverage to Barisan Nasional menteris besar and chief ministers in their 8pm news, he said the private radio and television stations were not under the control of the Information Ministry.
However, he said, they should use their wisdom in accordance with the set guidelines in formulating programmes for airing.
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