The Mandarin news team of state broadcaster Radio-Television Malaysia (RTM) took another ‘beating’: this time its news was aired without superimposed headlines in Mandarin.

Starting yesterday, the Mandarin newsreader had to read the news without any accompanying video footage. At noon today, the 20-minute programme was aired with only superimposed news headlines in Bahasa Melayu.

Usually, the superimposed headlines are run bilingually.

At the moment, the reason for this further ‘punishment’ is unknown, but sources familiar with the TV industry ruled out technical glitch.

Malaysiakini reported yesterday that the Mandarin news team of state broadcaster RTM has been 'punished' , purportedly for airing an unflattering photograph of the prime minister.

The RTM Mandarin newsreader was made to read the report without any accompanying video footage for the whole 20 minutes of the programme.

RTM's head of Mandarin news Tan Lee Won confirmed to Malaysiakini yesterday about the directive banning the team from using any visuals.

Sources claimed the punishment was due to the news team’s use of a photograph of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in its 8pm broadcast on Tuesday.

The image was displayed when the RTM Mandarin newsreader was reporting on Najib's successful bid in staying PKR's lawsuit against him for allegedly breaking general election spending regulations.

However, Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak said he was not aware of any such directive coming from the ministry level.

"I am not aware of any instruction from the ministry," Salleh told Malaysiakini in a text message yesterday.