Gobind wants RTM to be the people’s first choice

KUALA LUMPUR: Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo said he will ensure that Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) move forward and always be the people’s first choice for TV and radio channels.

He said he would continue to assist RTM to remain relevant despite new technology and stiff competition.

As a national broadcasting station, he said RTM was an institution that must be maintained even though there were those who thought that it was unnecessary to keep the station going.

“There are people from outside who send messages to me, saying that there is no need for us to continue with RTM and I said ‘No way! RTM is an institution’.

“After 73 years we are still relevant and strong, because RTM staff are still strong. You are the heart and soul of RTM. Prove that we can rise to this challenge,” he said at the 73rd anniversary celebration of RTM and the launch of the station’s news trial channel at Angkasapuri yesterday.

He said RTM had always shown results based on experience gained, as well as in compliance with laws, rules and procedures.

“As a government department under the Communications and Multimedia Ministry, RTM supports any government policies as well as introducing and explaining them through radio and TV programmes to the community,” he said.

He said RTM had been transitioning from analogue to digital broadcasting since 2004 and it would be fully operational in digital broadcast in high definition and standard definition soon.

Gobind said that RTM, which started as a radio channel on April 1, 1946, had expanded its services into 33 national, state and local radio channels.