ALOR GAJAH – The government will allow Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) to air the posters and biodata of all candidates contesting in the Melaka polls from tomorrow.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the airing of such documents will be done as often as possible, as well as fairly and equally.
“Taking into account the difficulty faced in campaigning and the fact that voters have very little knowledge of the candidates contesting in their respective constituencies, we (the government) have agreed for RTM to increase the frequency of airing the candidates’ portraits and biodata from tomorrow,” he told a press conference here today.
Annuar said the government also asked RTM to draft appropriate time slots for airing the campaign materials without disrupting its normal programmes.
He said RTM has been directed to contact each candidate for their information, on the condition that they do not cause any polemics or controversies.
“So, RTM is making preparations, including (airing) during prime time so that efforts to introduce candidates in a fair manner can be carried out from tomorrow until Friday, a day before polling.
“I hope there is sufficient space to carry out this initiative,” he said.
On Wednesday, Annuar said the government was considering giving slots to Melaka election candidates, including the opposition, to campaign via government official television and radio channels following difficulties faced by all political parties, especially new candidates, to campaign in the new normal.
Meanwhile, he said candidates – especially those in rural areas – facing broadband coverage problems while campaigning on social media can bring the issue up with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
“If there is any location experiencing such a problem, we have a team that can boost coverage in a particular area. We have conducted a review and the network is okay.
“But when too many people are using it, there is a possibility that we may experience poor coverage. But if there are areas experiencing extremely poor coverage, they can inform us. MCMC will be on standby and telecommunication companies have been asked to give their cooperation by fixing boosters to increase the Internet speed,” he said. – Bernama, November 13, 2021
