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Malaysian State-Run Radio Stations to Start 24-Hour Broadcasts

Posted on: Sunday, 31 July 2005, 06:00 CDT

Text of report in English by Malaysian news agency Bernama web site

Seremban, 30 July: All state radio stations run by the government will operate 24 hours a day soon, Information Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Kadir Shaykh Fadzir said Saturday [30 July].

He said the 24-hours broadcast will be implemented in stages starting from Kelantan FM next Monday followed by Kedah, Perlis and Terengganu which have been given priority.

"It's true it involves additional cost but it will be carried out within the near term," he told reporters after chairing the Third National Information Council Meeting here.

He said the managements of broadcasting departments in the states had been told to give fresh touches to the contents of their radio programmes to turn their stations into "the People's Radio" that was apolitical.

A committee would be set up in each state to discuss programmes that could enhance stations productivity and creativity to draw more listeners so that the aim of making them the people's radios was achieved, he said

"Of course the contents will not focus solely on national news but local news as well in between entertainment programmes for all ages. This effort will be ongoing," he said.

Radio fan memberships had earlier been introduced to attract more listeners.

Abdul Kadir also said public radio stations had chalked up higher advertisement revenues since rebranding efforts started but the amounts differed from one station to another.

Source: BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific

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