Govt plans 24-hour news channel in English
Published on: Thursday, December 18, 2014
KUALA LUMPUR: The government mulls setting up a 24-hour news channel in English to broadcast news about Malaysia to the world. Communication and Multimedia Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said that the ministry at the moment, would be setting up a dedicated 24 hour Bahasa Malaysia news channel through Radio Television Malaysia (RTM), once the broadcast digitalisation is completed in the near future."However, there is no plans to have an all English news channel in English in the country," he said.Ahmad Shabery said that in countries like Germany, South Korea and Japan, where most of their channels are based on their respective mother-tongue, they have one channel in the English Language.
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"If we want to bring Malaysia to the world, there it should be in a language which people can easily understand us — which is English," he said.On the problem plaguing Bernama TV, Ahmad Shabery said that he is aware of what the private-owned broadcasting company is going through, and is in discussion with relevant parties on its future plans. "It is one news channel with various languages (English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Tamil), and I do not think there are any countries with such model.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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He added that the ministry is looking into various alternative to resolve the issue. It was reported that Bernama TV could not pay salary to its workers since November, prompting many of its staff to take emergency leave due to financial constraints.
