A state-run radio station will disrupt social harmony, said Information, Communication and Culture Deputy Minister Joseph Salang Gandum.

pas muktamar 130610 dzulkefly ahmad He was answering a supplementary question posed by Kuala Selangor MP Zulkefly Ahmad ( left ) in parliament today, who wanted to know why the application from Kelantan and Selangor for a state radio station is still pending after quite a long while.

"How will the government promote democracy and disseminate information to the people?" pointed out Zulkefly.

Gandum replied that a state radio station can affect social harmony.

"Our country is based on the constitution, so we have to remember that there should not be a ‘state within a state’ as this will disrupt the social harmony in the country. This might have affected the status of your application," he explained.

Gandum also suggested that the Selangor menteri besar meet with his minister directly on the matter.

National Media Council delayed

Meanwhile, Gandum said the formation of the National Media Council has been delayed as the Media Coordination Committee has yet to make its final recommendations.

NONE Gandum ( left ) agreed that the move to set up the council was good and should be accelerated by media officials.

He was responding to an oral question from Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin, who asked what was the status of the plan to set up the National Media Council, and whether the government will review the mechanism to issue the annual license for press and print media so that the power to issue and renew the license is transferred from the ministry to the council.

Gandum clarified that the legal powers are vested in the Home Ministry for print media while the general power is vested in the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

The Umno youth chief further asked if the government will amend or abolish the Printing, Presses and Publication Act 1984 (PPPA).

tak nak potong 528 nite pppa wall "Is it time for the government to look into the amendment or the abolition of the PPPA to be replaced with a independent monitoring body, for example in United Kingdom, where the media industry itself provides for its own monitoring. I think that it is better for the media to self regulate?" he asked.

Gandum however passed the ball to the home minister and said that the abolition of PPPA is under their purview.

The PPPA requires all newspapers to obtain a permit from the Home Ministry before publishing. Under the Act, newspapers can also be issued show-cause letters at any time. However, the Act has not been amended to cover electronic and internet media.

“My ministry feels that the existence of a National Media Council will help the government in monitoring online content," he added.