No more live telecast of political party meetings 

Bede Hong Bede Hong Updated 5 years ago · Published on 27 Sep 2018 5:45PM · 2 Comments

The Umno general assembly this weekend is the first for the party as opposition. RTM will not air its proceedings live. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Afif Abd Halim, September 27, 2018.

NATIONAL broadcaster RTM will no longer air live telecasts of annual general meetings of political parties, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo.

“Not live. We don’t do it live. But if there is a press conference after that, then of course, whatever is carried in the press conference, we can report,” he said in Putrajaya today. 

“Every political party has (its) own agenda. They have their own AGMs, meetings and events. If there is a press conference or news content, then it would be aired as deemed appropriate by the respective agencies in this new Malaysia.”

The Umno general assembly, its 72nd and first as an opposition party, takes place this weekend.

Gobind, who is DAP deputy chairman, shot down the proposal to broadcast the meeting: “There is going to be no live telecast as far as we are concerned.

“We have already made this very, very clear. But if there is of course, news coverage, then RTM and Bernama is free to report whatever it is.

“You must understand that RTM has programmes allotted throughout the day. We won’t do a live function like that. But if there is news to report, then that’s something they can report,” he said.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will take the stage to inform some 3,000 delegates how he would chart the course for the Malay party. 

It is not known whether former president Najib Razak will make an appearance. – September 27, 2018.  

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Comments

  • Good decision... Umno doesnt deserve any free airtime. Any news to be reported must be newsworthy...
    RTM & Bernama shall cover stories just like the other press instead of giving preferential treatment to Umno. Gone are the days when Umno calls the shots on the media to do coverage, and our news boys would simply oblige to their every request..
    In normal circumstances, the event organisers would invite the media to attend the press conference. Coverage of the PC is sufficient. Not necessary to go beyond that.. this must be made clear to RTM and Bernama- supporters of former BN government..
    it is also the right time now that the media introduces professional protocols and not practice favouritism.. It time to Reform the Media/Publishers in the country to behave and act professionally.
    YB Gobind Singh, please look into this..

    Posted 5 years ago by Thiruchelvam Thirunavukarasu · Reply

  • That's the way to go. AGM proceedings of a political party is their own business. Not to be shared by public. These guys got it all wrong the last 60 donkey years. Better late than never.

    Posted 5 years ago by Ramakrishnan Thangavelu · Reply