Johor govt pledges not to restrict news coverage for Opposition

JOHOR BARU: The Pakatan Harapan state government promises not to restrict news coverage over RTM for the Opposition, says Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali.

The exco member, who holds the Information, Entrepreneurship Development, Cooperatives and Creative Economy portfolio, said the state government favoured press freedom.

“We believe in giving everyone’s news and views to be aired while providing a fair coverage to the Opposition,” he said in an interview.

However, he said as Pakatan was now the ruling state government, RTM might allocate more news coverage to the coalition.

“It may feel like RTM is biased but it is not. They are just doing their job.

“But if the Opposition feels like they are not having all their views and news aired, I would encourage them to set up its own media. We will not stop them,” he said.

Having a strong Opposition, said Sheikh Umar, was beneficial for the state because it meant that all in authority would be on their feet, looking after the people’s welfare.

He said he was also in the midst of meeting various agencies and over new programmes to encourage entrepreneurship among youths.

“Everything is so expensive and many jobs do not pay well, even for fresh graduates. That is why many of our youths work in Singapore.

“I urge them to consider becoming an entrepreneur.

“I know it is not easy and that it may be risky but there have been numerous success stories in Johor itself,” he pointed out.