KUALA LUMPUR: The Communications and Multimedia Ministry is to present a proposal to the Cabinet to obtain the rights for Radio Television Malaysia to telecast the 2018 World Cup matches live for Malaysian soccer fans.
Minister Gobind Singh Deo said the proposal would be tabled at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday and he hoped to receive a favourable answer quickly.
“As far as I’m concerned, this is one of the ways in which we can promote RTM again. I think we need to do this, we need to increase viewership on the part of RTM. This is an international event. To me, it is very important for RTM, as our national TV network, to air the live telecast,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after his maiden visit to the Malaysian National News Agency, Bernama, at Wisma Bernama here today.
Yesterday, Muar MP and Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman said there was a need to find ways to bring the 2018 World Cup matches to local fans.
The quadrennial event will be held in Russia, with 32 countries from five football confederations competing in 12 venues to win the prestigious trophy.
The World Cup, dubbed the Greatest Show on Earth, will kick off on June 14 with hosts Russia meeting Saudi Arabia in a Group A match at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow at 6 pm (11 pm Malaysian time). – Bernama