CALL OFF RTM LIVE TELECAST OR OTHERWISE?

Should beaming live proceedings in the Dewan Rakyat without any censorship by RTM 1 be abolished or otherwise?

After the 30-minute live telecast of the question and answer session of the Dewan Rakyat sitting captured the unparliamentary behavior of its members, should the live telecast be continued remains the serious question being asked by the tax payers.

The answer from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is positive as he described the incident happened as disgraceful and said he would support a decision to call off the live telecast.

On the other hand, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, who was cheesed off over what happened and had publicly said he wanted to stop the telecast, told a post-cabinet news conference today that RTM will continue with it, but would be reviewed if what happened on Wednesday recurred.

Beaming live proceedings in the Dewan Rakyat without any censorship by RTM 1 can be interpreted as the new approach of the new Information Minister to bear the testimony of the government’s openness and transparency of the mainstream media.

There now exist two schools of though, should RTM continue with it or otherwise.

Ironically, the precedent of British Parliament and Australian Parliament too telecast its proceedings, but interestingly, in USA Al Gore against it. Al Gore suggests that we cannot have both television and democracy. To him, democracy depends on reason and a well-informed citizenry whereas television on the sub-rational manipulation of wants. TV not only treats citizens as consumers; it corrupts politics. Politicians sell out to organized money to pay for TV ads.

Theodore White said television is American politics.

How about Malaysia? What now? Call off the live telecast or otherwise?

The answer is : RTM will continue with it, but would be reviewed if what happened on Wednesday recurred.