NST Online Too many tongues, too few channels

Too many tongues, too few channels

2009/11/06

THERE are not enough channels on national television and radio to air programmes for all minority ethnic groups, the house was told yesterday.

But Deputy Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum said the ministry would expand the scope of programmes once RTM was fully digitalised.

RTM is expected to go fully digital by 2012.

Answering a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing (BN-Tuaran), who wanted to know if the ministry was planning to give more airtime for minorities in Sabah and Sarawak, Gandum said for the time being it could not be done.

"There are more than 70 ethnic groups in Sabah and Sarawak.

"So if we broadcast for all of them, what about the ethnic groups in the peninsula?

"Like the Malays, they have all kinds of groups within them like the Minang and Jawa" he said.

To a question from Datuk Johari Abdul (PKR-Sungai Petani) on whether the ministry was planning on more dramas in local languages instead of airing dramas in Tagalog, Spanish and Thai, he said the ministry was requesting local producers to make more programmes.

Earlier, replying to Bumburing's main question on broadcast content for minorities, he said Radio Malaysia Orang Asli -- ASYIKfm -- used four main dialects: Semai, Temiar, Temuan and Jakun.

Those in Sabah have Radio Malaysia Sabah fm that broadcasts in the Murut, Kadazan, Dusun and Bajau languages while Sarawak listeners can tune in to WAI fm which broadcasts in the Iban, Bidayuh and Kenyah languages.

 

 

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via nst.com.my

What can you say? Malaysia truly Asia? With so many ethnic minorities, no wonder our broadcasters, writers, etc are never short of contents. But, for the nation's United front, we should give more emphasis to our national language. It should not stop the Govt. from allowing a time slot for programs for these segments of the 'rakyat' though.

Posted via web from mikis's posterous