KUCHING: Radio Free Sarawak (RFS) and Radio Kenyalang (RF) should operate within the state and not abroad if they were really run by genuine Sarawakians.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang opined that “if these people (the broadcasters) are really true sons and daughters of Sarawak, let them operate locally.”
“Here in Malaysia, we believe in democratic processes. Some of these `personalities’ have tried elections, failed, lost their deposits and then ran out of the country and make use of foreigners,” he told reporters after witnessing a sponsorship agreement between Dayak Cultural Foundation and Petronas yesterday.
“I think any sensible Malaysian will think that this is not the proper thing to do.”
Jabu opined that it was unethical to let foreigners get involved in affairs of the state, especially when it involved acts of tarnishing the image of the government and poisoning the minds of locals.
However, he believed that Sarawakians would not be easily fooled by the lies spread by the stations, which allegedly targets rural folks.
“We believe every report made should be based on true facts and it’s up to the people to judge what they (stations) had reported.”
Jabu added that Malaysia never attempted to govern other countries, so foreigners meddling with the affairs of Sarawak or Malaysia was something morally and ethically wrong.
Asked to comment on PRS Youth lodging a police report against the two radio stations recently, Jabu only remarked that “it is not a matter of PRS, it is the government.”
“PRS is in the government. Don’t try to compartmentalise PRS.”