KUCHING: After a hiatus of more than four months, the notorious Radio Free Sarawak (RFS) is back again this week seemingly with the coming general election in mind.
A political observer, who declined to be named, said the state government looks set to be bombarded again with accusations against it as RFS did prior to the April state election.
“Expect them to again attack the state government on various issues, and also expect police reports against them,” he said.
RFS, in a press statement e-mailed to several media organisations here, said it is now back with an ‘expanded team and greater ambitions’.
Without specifying which date of this week it will start, it said it will kick off with a two-hour daily time slot from 6 to 8pm on Short Wave band 17560 kHz, and the broadcast is also available online via the website www.radiofreesarawak.org.
It added that listeners can expect to hear voices also from the opposition parties.
“As before, the station will continue to focus on the concerns and interests of the ordinary people of Sarawak, mainly rural folk, who currently have no access to an independent news source.
“However, it (RFS) will also address urban and Malaysia-wide issues in recognition of its popular following among internet users and listeners from other states.” it stated.
One of the DJs of RFS is Peter John Jaban alias Papa Urang Utan. Peter John had exposed his identity prior to the state election, after months operating under his alias.
RFS is also linked to the hard-hitting Sarawak Report, authored by Rewcastle Brown, 51, born in Sarawak to British parents in the days before the former British colony was handed over to Malaysia.
According to the statement again, Papa Orang Utan will return and he will host the Sunday show, while Kakak Burung Tiong along with a new voice Michael Ngau will be leading day time news coverage.
Based on previous media reports, RFS is said to operate from London, Great Britain.
However, it was not immediately known if the new RFS will operate from the same location or had moved.