Rural community requests longer airtime for Kenyah radio segment on Miri.FM

MIRI: Radio remains the ‘ ultimate intermediate medium’ for those living in the rural areas to connect with the outside world.

Speaking on behalf of the local Kenyah community, Danny Lawai Kajan believes that the reliance on radio extends to the rural folk getting the most current and updated information regarding development being implemented by the government.

In this regard, he appeals to Radio Televisyen Malaysia ( RTM) to extend the daily broadcasting time for ‘ Talidio Kenyah’ – a Kenyah language segment on Miri.FM – from the present one hour ( 5pm- 6pm), to three hours.

According to Danny, who is Miri Kenyah Association treasurer, there are at least 20 villages across the Long San area up to Lio Mato, and they still do not have basic facilities such as electricity supply from the grid.

“The majority of the residents there still depend on generators for power supply, and even for this, they rely on the availability of diesel to fuel the engine.

“If there’s no supply, then they use candles or oil lamps.

“The reception for televisions and phone lines are also very weak; hence, the reliance on radio broadcast. To make clear phone calls, they have to go to higher ground to get any signal,” he said in a WhatsApp message yesterday.

In this regard, Danny hoped that in connection with the 73rd anniversary of RTM and 10th anniversary of ‘ Talidio Kenyah Miri.FM’ this year, the station would extend the airtime for the Kenyah segment, just like the Bisaya and Lun Bawang programmes – each running for three hours.

“If approved, we would request for the daily three-hour Kenyah programme to be divided into two segments – the first to run from 11am to 1pm, while the second from 5pm to 6pm.

“The 11am-1pm broadcast time is appropriate for those in the remote pockets for them to convey or receive family news such as deaths, marriages, illnesses and accidents,” he added.