The Communications and Multimedia Ministry will not allow Bernama and RTM to broadcast live the Umno general assembly this Saturday.

There is no need for the two news agencies to do so, said the minister.

"There will be no live broadcast but both RTM and Bernama can cover the assembly and publish anything freely.

"The rakyat has to understand that RTM and Bernama have their programmes lined up daily. They have set up pre-planned programmes, thus there will be no live broadcast," he told media after attending a function at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre today.

Gobind stressed that the Pakatan Harapan government will not impose any restrictions on the two media outlets from covering the Umno event.

The Umno general assembly will take place on Sept 29 and 30.

This is Umno's first assembly as the opposition. Its previous assemblies were broadcast live not only by RTM and Bernama but also by private media entities such as Astro Awani.

According to Gobind, a similar rule will also apply to political parties under Pakatan Harapan.

"The general assemblies of any party under Harapan will not be broadcast live, there will only be press conferences. If there is news value, we will allow (a broadcast). If there is a party election, for instance, there will be a press conference afterwards.

"Anything that is said in the press conference can be reported," he said.