Following a lightning probe by the Malaysian Communications And Multimedia Commission (MCMC), The Star RFM today formally dismissed a senior official from its beleaguered radio station, 988FM.

Senior programme manager Tan Chia Yong, who had been suspended nearly three weeks, told Malaysiakini that he was called in by his management this morning and handed his termination letter.

The letter stated that his duties had been ended with immediate effect as the MCMC had found that Tan’s ' Hi Malaysia! ' talk show programme broadcast by the station on Aug 13 had violated regulations stated in the station’s broadcasting licence.

988 radio hi malaysia Suspended together with Tan were the station’s chief executive officer Wong Lai Ngo and the programme’s popular host DJ, Jamaluddin Ibrahim. They are expected to face the same fate as Tan.

It was learnt that both Wong and Jamaluddin had also been summoned by their management today but both had said they could not be present due to prior appointments. They are expected to meet the Star RFM’s management tomorrow.

Tan expressed his disappointment with the decision, saying he was not given a chance to explain himself.

"No questioning, no chance to explain myself. The sentence just came out straight. What has happened to this media? It is so crude and brutal. In face of such rude treatment, what should I do? What can I do?" lamented Tan.

Heated Web discussion

Radio 988FM shot into the limelight for all the wrong reasons on Aug 19 when its management announced that Jamaluddin had been taken off the air following a letter from the MCMC which alleged that the programme’s Aug 13 episode had ‘threatened national security’ and ‘compromised race relationships’.

As a result of the fall-out, three other DJs, Wong and Tan were also suspended later that day. MCMC officials then moved in, conducting a lengthy investigation with interviews on Aug 21.

NONE ‘ Hi Malaysia! ’ is broadcast every Monday to Friday from 8.10am to 10am. It is hosted by two permanent DJs - Jamaluddin ( right) and Qiu Yue and another who is a rotating host.

The programme provides the public with the opportunity to call in and air their views on various current issues and is well-received by the Chinese community.

Jamaluddin’s fate sparked heated discussion over the Internet with over 5,000 comments posted on Jamaluddin's Facebook page to show support for the radio programme while Pakatan Rakyat leaders also jumped into the fray through Facebook or Twitter postings.

The DJ has since embarked on a nationwide tour speaking to packed venues on the issues surrounding the controversy. He has alleged that his suspension was the result of a political conspiracy and an attempt to impose censorship on the people.

Chua denies hand

Beginning Monday, Radio 988FM formally substituted ‘ Hi, Malaysia! ’ with a new programme, putting a full stop to the popular Chinese talk show on a media indirectly owned by the MCA.

chua soi lek mca penang agm 010810 There have been allegations that the hidden agenda of the whole incident is to uproot former MCA president Ong Tee Keat's ‘supporters’ in the radio station.

During last year's MCA internal power struggle, one of the hosts, Koh Kok Wee, was dropped. The speculation was that his frequent criticism of then MCA president Ong caused his premature departure.

Jamaluddin had been supportive of Ong, frequently arguing with Koh on-air over MCA and various related issues. Since Chua Soi Lek took over as MCA president in March, rumours have been rife that a restructuring of the radio station's personnel was in the offing.

Chua ( above ) has since denied that he had anything to do with Jamaluddin’s suspension.