Two television stations under Media Prima Group are being accused of blacking out news regarding the Rawang new village resident’s run in with Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) workers on Thursday.

Both ntv7 and 8tv had deployed its Mandarin news crew to the scene, that saw a fracas break out after residents tried to stop TNB workers from starting works on high tension cable towers in the village.

NONE Sources told Malaysiakini that both stations were ordered not to air the news, that saw wide coverage in the Chinese dailies today.

However, it was learnt that ntv7 did make brief mention of the news during its Thursday afternoon hourly news shorts, although it was withheld from the prime time news broadcasts

When contacted, Media Prima group Chinese advisor Goh Hin San refused to confirm or deny the allegation of a blackout.

“I'm very busy lately, I cannot know every details of the programmes of the stations,” he said, promising to follow up on the matter.

Was there a deal?

Rawang new village chief Goh Ah Kow expressed his disappointment with the television station’s decision not to air the news.

NONE “It is not a transparent practice,” he said, speculating that there might be political interference involved.

He also speculated that TNB may perhaps have struck a deal with the television stations. He expressed hope that the media will be professional and remain neutral in the villagers’ dispute with TNB over the controversial project.

On Thursday, TNB workers appeared unannounced at the village and began work after extended efforts by the villagers to halt the construction.

This prompted the villagers to come out in numbers to disrupt construction works but their efforts were foiled by the police.

In the resulting melee three protestors were arrested , and the magistrate had given the police a further 24 hours yesterday for remand. 

The three were later released at about 3pm yesterday on police bail, according to lawyer Tan Hui Chan.