The Information, Communications and Culture Ministry will rebut allegations made by Radio Free Sarawak to prevent the people, especially in the rural areas, from being hoodwinked into believing false news.

NONE Its secretary-general Kamaruddin Siaraf ( right ) said Radio Free Sarawak was the main point of contention to be addressed by departments and agencies under the ministry in the run-up to the 13th general election besides common issues like native customary rights (NCR), raised by the opposition.

Among strategies that will be unleashed include updating the content of RTM radio stations and Radio Kenyalang service for rural areas under Astro Njoi satellite service, he said at the Sarawak Issues Tour programme attended by about 150 employees from departments and agencies under the ministry, in Miri today.

An independent radio station established by social activist and journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown (sister-in-law of former British prime minister Gordon Brown) in 2010, Radio Free Sarawak, which is operated by three locals, portrays land and NCR issues, and is aired in Iban, Malay and English.

Meanwhile, in a dialogue, Kamaruddin said the ministry did not plan to provide rural residents with free radio as a measure to counter accusations made by Radio Free Sarawak, but would strengthen existing medium such as extending the Njoi service in the interior as well as making changes in RTM radio stations.

Kamaruddin said the Njoi service enabled the people living in remote areas to get better radio and television reception.

In another development, he said departments and agencies under the ministry also needed to chart out strategies to help increase the percentage of voters casting their votes in the next general election.

"It is not good enough if we get only a 60 percent voter turnout. If possible, we want between 85 and 95 percent. We have to find ways to encourage people to vote," he said.

He also called on officers to go down to the ground as often as they could, especially to longhouses in order to get feedbacks and resolve their problems promptly.

- Bernama