KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 — Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sees no reason for the national broadcast media regulator to pull the plug on the “Undilah” video, saying similar electionpublic service announcements (PSA) have been allowed on the air since the country’s first polls.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had directed local broadcasters this week not to use the PSA just days after its launch on September 16.
The Malaysian Insider reported yesterday that the clip was taken off the air by local broadcasters despite a push for greater democracy because it contains opposition figures and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s speech talking about Malaysia having problems.
“I think it’s good. I enjoy listening to that,” Abdullah said today as he disagreed with MCMC’s decision.
The fifth prime minister remembered listening to the last Datuk Zainal Alam singing the “Marilah Mengundi” song, composed for the then-Information Department, during election season back in the 1950s.
“I don’t see any reason for any action to be taken,” he said, referring to the MCMC’s move to temporarily pull the PSA off the air.
In a statement to state news agency Bernama today, the regulator said its decision was a routine measure under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and had nothing to do with the contents of the clip.
“In the case of the PSA produced by musician Pete Teo, as a result of a routine compliance monitoring exercise made by MCMC, it was found that approval had yet to be obtained from the board for the said PSA,” the commission was quoted as saying in its statement by Bernama Online.
“As such, the PSA should not have been aired on television till approval is obtained,” it added, referring to the national Film Censorship Board (FCB).
Without the approval, the MCMC said Teo’s 4.38-minute music video clip promoting the right to vote could not be aired on TV.
Abdullah, however, questioned why a PSA needed the FCB’s approval: “Do they really need a licence?”
Earlier today, MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong demanded an explanation from the regulator over its decision urging broadcasters to stop telecast of the video.
The deputy minister, who appears in the clip along with other Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers, pointed out to the regulatory body that the video did not promote any controversial content and was merely an “innocent” public service announcement urging Malaysians to vote.
“I was shocked. Just shocked. I do not understand why it was taken off the air. It was just a simple message encouraging people to vote,” he told The Malaysian Insider today.
A government source confirmed that the MCMC sent the email to Media Prima, which is linked to Umno and owns the NTV7 channel, and Astro, the direct broadcast satellite pay-television service.
“MCMC emailed both Astro and Media Prima Bhd about the issue, telling them the video clip should not be aired because Ku Li speaks about the country having problems and also because it features opposition leaders,” an industry source told The Malaysian Insider, referring to Tengku Razaleigh by his popular nickname.
“Only NTV7 used it but the MCMC email was sent to both organisations which control the majority of television channels in the country,” the source added.
The MCMC is an independent regulator but it reports to Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim, who was incidentally the Kelantan prince’s comrade in Semangat 46 before the party was dissolved for the politicians to join Umno Baru, the successor party to the original Umno that was declared illegal in 1988.
Apart from Tengku Razaleigh and Wee, the video also features personalities like Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abd Rashid Shirlin and opposition figures Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad and Seri Setia assemblyman Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
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