KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) is engaged in negotiations for the possible takeover of the entire interests in a company that operates the BernamaTV 24-hour news channel, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Bernama’s takeover of BernamaTV Synergy Sdn Bhd would enable the government to provide financial aid to the news agency, which currently owns 33 per cent of the company, to operate BernamaTV.
“BernamaTV is a private TV news channel. It is not government-owned. It is improper to hold the government responsible for the revenue gain or loss of a private company,” he said when replying to a question from Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun (DAP-Jelutong).
Ooi had wanted to know the status of BernamaTV and the fate of its employees, whom he claimed were not paid their salaries as scheduled, and whether the BernamaTV Mandarin broadcasts would be discontinued.
BernamaTV Synergy Sdn Bhd was established in 2008 to run BernamaTV over the Astro 502 channel.
BernamaTV was unable to operate as usual early last month after a number of its employees did not turn up for work.
Ahmad Shabery met with BernamaTV employees on Feb 12 to discuss problems and the future of the TV channel.
On an alleged delay in the piecemeal payments to daily-rated employees at Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), the minister said RTM had never failed to pay its staff.
“Any delay in the receipt of payments could be due to a change in the procedure for making claims. That issue has been resolved,” he said. – Bernama