Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin has ruled out live broadcasts of parliamentary proceedings, saying the public was not mature enough to accept MPs' behaviour and racially charged debate.

Zainuddin refused opposition requests for the broadcasts on Radio Television Malaysia (RTM), saying the decision was made in the interests of safeguarding harmony in the multi-racial country.

"The time has not come for RTM to telecast the parliamentary proceedings live because our society has not attained a mental maturity where it is insensitive to racial issues," Bernama quoted him as saying.

Zainuddin pointed to the outrage over racially charged speeches attacking the country's ethnic Chinese and Indian communities during the ruling party Umno's annual meeting earlier this month.

Many viewers were offended to see live satellite television coverage of party delegates saying that the majority Muslim Malays must be willing to fight "to the last drop of blood" to defend their rights.

"As such, imagine what could happen during live telecast of the parliament session where politicians from various races get to speak openly," he said.

Race relations in Malaysia are generally peaceful but have become increasingly strained in recent years amid what critics describe as the growing "Islamisation" of the country.