Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has made a public appeal to satellite television network Astro for the Thomas Cup final to be aired for free through Radio Television Malaysia (RTM).

 

Khairy noted that Astro, a subscription-only service, had asked RTM to pay RM4 million for the rights to broadcast the Thomas Cup final but RTM had already exhausted its budget for the broadcasting rights of the Fifa World Cup Football Championship 2014.

 

"As sports minister and on behalf of this sports-loving nation, I would like to make an appeal to Astro to reduce the cost or to gift the broadcasting rights (for the Thomas Cup final) to Malaysians through RTM.

 

"It is not always that we (Malaysia) make it through the Thomas Cup final. The last time was 12 years ago and the last time we won was 22 years ago.

 

"The airing of the (final) match tomorrow should be available to all Malaysians for free," he said in a Facebook posting today.

 

Khairy said he had no choice but to make this public appeal as Astro has insisted on the RM4 million fee for the broadcasting rights when approached.

 

He asked netizens to share his message on social media to make in a campaign to let every Malaysian watch the final showdown for free on RTM tomorrow.

 

"Please, let Malaysians from all walks of life watch this final," he said.

 

Shabery apologises

 

Malaysia yesterday ended a 12-year drought after defeating Indonesia 3-0 to secure a place in the Thomas Cup final against Japan.

 

Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei defeated Tommy Sugiarto in a straight sets win while the country's first doubles Tan Boon Heong and Hoon Thien How defeated Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setawan.

 

Second singles Chong Wei Feng too secured to a win over Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka to put Malaysia in the finals.

 

Meanwhile, Bernama reported Ahmad Shabery Cheek apologising to Malaysians over RTM's non-transmission of the Thomas Cup as the state-owned TV station had ran out of budget.

 

"I apologise on behalf of RTM because many were dissatisfied as there was no live telecast (yesterday). This was because the broadcasting rights had been acquired by a private TV station. 

 

"If we wished (to telecast), we had to pay highly and in this matter, we had other requirements including the live coverage during the Brazil World Cup (football) championship and the cost content for sports is not cheap, it involves millions of ringgit," he was quoted as saying.

 

RTM has obtained the exclusive broadcasting rights for the Fifa World Cup Football Championship 2014 which will be held in Brazil from June 12 to July 13.