RTM tunes in to the digital age

Media City to offer new era of broadcasting

KUALA LUMPUR: An all-in-one centre for media activities is being built on a 27ha land at the Angkasapuri complex in Bukit Putra here.

The Rm860mil Media City project would put Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) on par with international TV and radio stations, said Information, Communications and Culture Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Kamaruddin Siaraf yesterday.

The government-private sector development with Media City Development Sdn Bhd will be carried out in two phases until 2020, covering physical structures and the latest broadcasting equipment.

The signing of the agreement on the project at the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry was witnessed by Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim and his deputy Datuk Maglin Dennis D’cruz yesterday.

Kamaruddin represented the ministry at the signing while Media City Development was represented by company director Tan Sri Syed Anwar Jamalullail.

Kamaruddin said the modern Media City infrastructure would take RTM into a new era of national broadcasting, particularly when it switches to digital TV service.

“RTM will have a high-definition television studio, a music studio and an auditorium.

“The new facilities will pave the way for digital television services,” he said, adding that the radio technical facilities would be upgraded to enhance the standard of radio broadcast.

The project will also see the construction of a 17-storey building.

However, the existing iconic buildings at Angkasapuri, such as the eight-storey administrative building and Wisma Radio, will be retained.

He said the development of Media City would enable the national broadcasting industry to enter a new phase of turning Malaysia into a broadcasting hub in the South-east Asian region.

He said similar Media City projects had been implemented in countries such as , Britain, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

Kamaruddin said the ministry, along with a value-management think tank, took a year to plan the project following Cabinet approval.

Sharing their thoughts: Kamaruddin (left) discussing the project with Dr Rais (right) while Maglin looks on.