Controversial ‘guruji’ enjoys RTM air time

A government run radio channel has permitted the Rajayoga Power Transcendental Meditation Center to go on air to promote their spiritual programmes.

PETALING JAYA: The Communication and Multimedia Ministry’s decision to give air time to a meditation group, which was declared to be propagating ‘deviant teaching’ by Malaysian Hindu Sangam (MHS), raises concern whether the government is sensitive to the aspirations of the Hindu community.

A check by FMT revealed that the ministry has given the nod for the Rajayoga Power Transcendental Meditation Centre ( RPT) founder V Balakrishnan to promote his teachings via Minnal FM, a local Tamil radio station. Minnal FM is managed and owned by the government.

The three minutes air time given to Balakrishnan runs between 7am to 8am daily, and is a paid advertisement to promote his teachings and meditation methods.

All advertisement content for government radio channels would have to get prior approval from the Television and Radio Advertisement Unit, which falls under the purview of the ministry.

The national umbrella body for Hindus, MHS, had on July 3, 2013, issued a letter saying it does not recognise RPT’s teachings following doubts over its credentials.

MHS also said that Balakrishnan, who is also widely known as Datuk Seri Guruji among his disciples, is promoting supernatural powers through his meditation techniques which deviates from the core principles of Hinduism.

FMT failed to get comments from the ministry despite several attempts.

RPT is a meditation centre conducting yoga programmes on how to harness spiritual energy (yoga shakti) for material and spiritual benefits.

However, the group has received backlash from social media users for charging exorbitant fees for the programmes.