Astro and Media Prima have been asked to resolve a request made by the Malaysian Indian Creative Content Action Force (Miccaf) for a full-fledged local Indian channel to air local Indian programmes.

Deputy Information Communications and Culture Minister Maglin Dennis D’Cruz said a meeting was held with Astro last Thursday and the outcome would be known within two weeks, while a meeting with Media Prima would be held next Thursday.

“Miccaf wants a dedicated channel, but I leave it to them (Astro and Media Prima) to find a solution and they have promised to help,” he told reporters after launching the ‘ Maathangal 9 ' documentary at Sultan Abdul Samad building in Kuala Lumpur today.

D’Cruz was commenting on a statement by Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam yesterday that the request should be looked into to enable the Indian community’s creative works to grow in tandem with that of other races in the country.

Works produced by local Indian filmmakers should also be screened by private and paid television stations to uplift their status, said D’Cruz, adding that, “If they are not given a chance, how could they upgrade themselves.”

On ‘ Maathangal 9 ', he said the documentary on maternal health in Tamil would be useful to young couples who were getting married .

It contains 13 episodes which will be screened on TV2 at 3.30pm on Thursdays from tomorrow.

- Bernama