KUALA LUMPUR, 18 Nov 2008: Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) is ready to add on ethnic Malaysian programmes based on current needs, said Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek.
He said his ministry also encouraged films and dramas that portrayed the beauty and uniqueness of Sabah and Sarawak for general knowledge and tourist attraction.
“I have directed them (RTM) to give priority if there is a producer who wants to make a drama that portrays the background of Sabah and Sarawak,” he said when replying to Datuk Dr Marcus Majigoh (BN-Putatan) in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Shabery said RTM was itself open to market films and dramas overseas, adding that several countries had joint agreements to buy RTM content for their broadcasts..
Shabery Ahmad said RTM took much note of its output and as such its digitalised programmes will see an increase in programmes that will indirectly involve the promotion of local locations, Ahamd Shabery said when answering a question by Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PKR-Machang) on RTM’s progamme development.
He said by increasing the number of television channels the move will also provide opportunity for local graduates to be involved in developing local content.
“RTM has just two channels and that is not enough. Now we have many multi-media programmes in universities that produce graduates who can churn out content. But they do not have outlets and that is why RTM TV’s digitalisation programme is given priority,” he said. — Bernama
