Government-owned television station RTM did not blackout the Terengganu political issue as reported by Malaysiakini yesterday, said Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim this morning.

He however defended that RTM's rights to report on any news as it wished.

rais yatim interview 160409 02 Speaking to reporters after attending the ministry's first gathering in Sultan Abdul Samad building, the newly-appointed minister said RTM was just "like other TV stations".

"And the government has the right to publish any news they wish to highlight," he said.

"There is no main gelap (blackout) or main putih . I leave it to RTM which news they prioritise the most to highlight... if people think that's not fair, we'll look into it," he said.

He also brushed off suggestions that the government practised censorship on its own television station contrary to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's call for a "vibrant, free and informed media".

"Censorship is practised by everyone, even in Herald Tribune , Wall Street Journal or Newsweek . Is there any good Malaysian news published in Newsweek ? No!" said Rais.

Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that RTM blacked out news on the apparent boycott by 10 Terengganu state representatives of the state assembly sitting two days ago.

Though the issue made headlines in every other prime-time private news broadcast, there was no mention of the matter during RTM's TV1 Tamil (7.30pm), Mandarin (8pm), local news (8.30pm) and main Malay (9pm) news broadcast last night.

Even the reactions from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin, on the matter did not make it into the TV1 news broadcast.

According to sources, respective news desks within TV1 were given verbal instructions not to report the issue.

A majority of people living in Terengganu rely on RTM for news and current affairs.

RTM is neutral

Rais also emphasised that RTM is a neutral entity, arguing that while other media may not like certain public figures, that was not the case with the state-owned TV station.

“If they don’t publish some particular news, this does not mean they don’t like it (the public figures),” he said.

rais yatim take over information communication art and culture ministry 140409 02 The minister also joked that he too faced ‘censorship’ yesterday as his event was not carried by RTM.

“If you say this or that particular news was not aired by RTM, my event was also 'blackout' . Only two reporters attended my event and I could also consider that as censorship, but this is normal,” Rais said, drawing laughter from those attended.

His two deputies Joseph Salang Gandum and Heng Seai Kie were also present at the function at the ministry’s building this morning.

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