RTM Broadcasts News Based On Merit Not Quota, Says Ahmad Shabery - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 (Bernama) -- News broadcasts by Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) are based on merit or news value and not according to any quota or designated programme slots, said Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

He said the broadcasts also had a consistent pattern and did cater to particular personalities.

"I know parties like PAS, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and DAP do not like quota systems, but why in this matter (RTM's broadcasts) they want quota allocations. News broadcasts must be based on merit... this is the direction we want to take.

"Other states although controlled by the Barisan Nasional (BN), we do not allocate any quotas for the menteris besar or chief ministers. In this matter, I hope the state governments concerned understand the policy practised by RTM," he told Bernama.

Ahmad Shabery, who made a visit to Bernama's headquarters here Tuesday, was commenting on a request by Perak Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin for the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) states to be allocated specific slots in RTM's programming.

As an example, he said RTM might cover an activity or programme he attended, but it need not necessarily be broadcast as news.

"There has been many cases like this, which I consider professionalism on the part of RTM. It's news value that must determine the broadcast of news," he said.

Ahmad Shabery said it was also not a question of bias because the states were governed by the PR.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=327039]