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

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."It does not mean if we give them one hour then we are being fair. Later they might demand two hours and if not given make threats like what the Selangor Menteri Besar did (ordering RTM's Selangor FM radio station to vacate its broadcasting premises at the Selangor secretariat building in Shah Alam)."This action is not fair because we are paying the rent and have a premises rental contract. Even in a trivial matter like this they want to show their arrogance, imagine what can happen if it was major matter," he said.On their asking RTM to provide them with slots now after having accused the broadcaster of being the BN government's propoganda machine, he said that (propoganda machine) was their own perception."They (PR parties) are very difficult to satisfy. They will make all kinds of demands and then complain of not enough airtime when three minutes is given when in fact one minute would have sufficed," he said.He said RTM lately had carried features on opposition leaders like the Chief Minister of Penang, Selangor Menteri Besar and Perak Menteri Besar, all from the PR.On PAS vice president Datuk Husam Musa asking for the five opposition-held states to be issued broadcasting licences, he said this did not come under the purview of RTM or the Information Ministry.On Bernama, Ahmad Shabery said he was very pleased that the national news agency had made a name for itself in the competitive news field and played an instrumental role in nation building.-- BERNAMA