PENAMPANG: Some 1,800 rural and interior people in the state will soon have better access to information after receiving decoders from Astro.
Pay television station Astro has allocated RM500 million to Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to enable the government-owned broadcaster to widen its coverage, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, said Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.
He said Astro and RTM had signed a memorandum of understanding for a period of three years beginning this year.
Thanking Astro for the gesture, Rais believes that it would put an end to non-receipt of Astro and RTM broadcasts and other sources of broadcast disturbances.
Speaking to reporters after attending the official launch of the ministry’s new integrated complex in Jalan Lintas, Kepayan, by Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin here, yesterday, Rais disclosed that the under the MoU, Astro would also be distributing another 2,000 decoders in Sarawak in the near future.
“The number of recipients for the decoders will increase after getting the confirmation from the state government,” he said.
“RTM will identify several locations in East Malaysia, as well as West Malaysia for the programme,” he said.
Rais added his ministry, through RTM, would also be increasing programmes with content suited to the needs and taste of target audiences in Sabah and Sarawak and a few selected areas in the peninsula.
As such, he said local television content producers were invited to submit suitable programmes to complement 16 suppliers of such programmes in Sabah and Sarawak.
“Besides television programmes broadcast on RTM’s TV1, TV2 and TV interaktif (TVi) networks, the collaboration would also allow people in Sabah and Sarawak to obtain satellite broadcasts of RTM’s radio stations, namely Klasik Nasional and its English, Mandarin and Tamil stations,” he said.
Touching on the RM74.8 million worth complex, which is sited on a 17.54-acre land, Rais said it had the latest radio and television transmission facilities and was a new landmark here in line with RTM’s growth over the years.
The complex, which began construction in March 2009, comprises two main blocks, namely the five-storey administration building and four-storey studio block.
It also houses the Information Department, Jasa, Bernama and RTM.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman in his speech urged all departments and agencies under the ministry in Sabah to double their efforts to ensure the government’s policies and programmes are disseminated to the people.
“It is important for the people to know the government’s efforts to develop and improve the people’s socio-economy, especially in the rural areas. I believe through the many programmes organised, it would bring positive impact to the people,” he said.
Also present were Juhar’s wife Toh Puan Norlida RM Jasni, Rais’ wife Datin Seri Maznah Rais, Sabah broadcasting director Abdul Jalani Mahmud, Sabah Information Department director Almain Ajirul, Sabah Special Affairs Department (Jasa) director Abdul Manap Lakariba and Malaysian National News Agency (BERNAMA) general manager Datuk Hasnul Hassan.