KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 — Bernama TV will be a more viable entity under a new management which is taking over operations of the 24-hour news channel, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Deputy Information Communication and Culture Minister Joseph Salang Gandum said several changes would be made to get more advertisers to buy Bernama TV airtime.
He said Bernama TV’s biggest share-holder was now Ancom Bhd, which had connection and networking with The Malay Mail newspaper.
Ancom Bhd largely deals with manufacturing agricultural chemicals and herbicides and is headed by Johari Razak, who is prime minister Najib’s youngest brother.
“With strong finance, this entity will be more flexible in airing programmes needed for nation building,” he said in response to a question by Raime Unggi (BN-Tenom) who wanted to know Bernama TV’s role in realising the government’s development and unity agenda, especially the 1Malaysia concept.
Salang Gandum said Bernama TV would provide an additional channel, besides TV3 and RTM , as well as fill the vacuum for a provider of a 24-hour television channel for news and information to the people.
“The present society wants accurate and fast information or news. Through Bernama TV, they don’t have to wait for certain times to get the latest news,” he added.
He said Bernama TV would play its role in promoting the government’s development agenda, as well as to strengthen the 1 Malaysia concept.
“News which are sensational and provocative in nature will not be given space because they will affect the objectives of 1Malaysia,” he added.
To a question by Salahuddin Ayub (Pas-Kubang Kerian) on the losses incurred by Bernama TV, Salang Gandum said it was due to its high operational cost, which was RM1.5 million a month, while its revenue collection through advertisements was only RM150,000 a month. — Bernama
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A 24-hour Biro Tatanegara in the making?
Seems like we're heading to become a Nazi state soon, if not already.