The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has called in award-winning singer and composer Yasin Sulaiman yesterday as a witnesss in their investigation of pirate radio station Radio Free Malaysia ( RFM ), which allegedly breached Malaysia’s broadcasting rules by not applying for a licence prior to its broadcasts.

Yasin’s lawyer Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin said that his client had appeared as a guest on the clandestine radio station which operates from London, on his pro-opposition song ‘Reformasi’.

NONE Shamsul Iskandar, who is also PKR Youth leader, said that he is still in the dark over why Yasin ( right ) was called in.

“He (Yasin) was called in by MCMC (yesterday) to assist investigations into a report against RFM .

"Because of the interview, he was called in as a witness. I think there is a possibility that MCMC will take action against the radio station as it is operating without a broadcast licence,” he told Malaysiakini yesterday.

Amongst questions directed by MCMC officers to his client were those demanding details about his pro-opposition song, said Shamsul.

“In my opinion this is an attempt to curb freedom of information in the run-up to polls. This attempt is making media freedom in Malaysian worse off than in Burma,” he said.

The pirate radio station kicked off its maiden broadcast on the night of March 25 with an interview with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Broadcasting on the mediumwave (MW) band at 1,359kHz, it is being operated by the same people behind anti-Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud radio station Radio Free Sarawak .

RFM broadcasts from 9pm to 11pm nightly in Malay.