Gobind Singh Deo – Bernama photo
PUTRAJAYA: The upcoming FIFA World Cup 2018 will be aired live for free over the national broadcaster, Radio Television Malaysia (RTM), Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo announced today.
The matter was raised at today’s meeting of the Cabinet, Gobind Singh said when met by reporters in Perdana Putra here after the weekly Cabinet meeting.
“Yes, we discussed it and the Cabinet has agreed that we will air the World Cup live on RTM1.
“The cost and how we are going to deal with that, I think this matter will be discussed by the Finance Minister (Lim Guan Eng) tomorrow,” he said.
When asked if the live telecast was a gift to the people for Pakatan Harapan having won the general election, Gobind Singh said the people had requested it.
“Those requests have come to me. So, I have taken it to the Cabinet and the Cabinet has made a decision,” he said.
Among those who had put forward the suggestion of airing the World Cup matches live was Muar Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman.
Asked whether the ministry would solicit for advertisements on RTM1 in relation to the World Cup telecast, Gobind Singh said: “These are the aspects which I think the Finance Minister will speak of tomorrow.”
Thirty-two nations will battle to become the world champion in the World Cup to be held in Russia from June 14 to July 15. – Bernama