I have always been a very keen follower to all-pervasiveness of so-called “political jokes”, from a part time Menteri Besar, a very experienced and not that experienced Minister until an over-excited Director General. Well, as usual and to be fair, no special exception would be accorded to this fresh deputy in charge too.
Last Thursday, Deputy Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin was quoted as saying on The Star that RTM still needs time to be the main actor on screen, mainly due to the ineffectiveness in updating the public of the earthquake’s status that hit northern Sumatra on Monday, March 28. Quote:
“I admit our weaknesses because we did not portray ourselves as first on scene and the first on the screen. We are working towards achieving this objective and we will get there one day.”“We are an infotainment channel and RTM1 is not a news channel such as CNN, which has a 24-hour news coverage.”
“We provide entertainment and the news.”
Now, let’s take a ride back to RTM Golden Year. To be exact, television services were introduced on 28th December 1963 (42 years ago) while TV Malaysia started its early telecast on 1st March 1994 (11 years ago). What made the whole scenario looked so hillarious was that, for ntv7 which was launched in 1998 (5 years ago) to provide coverage on the earthquake less than 30 minutes after the quake hit, why RTM with such a long history was unable to cope with that? Also, not to mention that, ntv7 too provide entertainment and news, isn’t it?
OK, for those who still can’t get what I mean here, mind you, what Datuk wanted is MORE TIME. After all, how much time RTM needs actually to be able to reach the so-called “we’ll get there one day“? My grandchildren would probably help to observe that on my behalf.
I would only say that, RTM is incompetent anymore. Worse, a new confession bundled with another new excuse, I doubt the least possibility of Malaysia Boleh slogan will come true, at least for RTM in years to come.
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Sometime ago I read a piece of news on Business Times quoting our dear Proton CEO Mahaleel of saying something like “Proton still needs time to emerge as a premier car maker”. So, I see no surprise when politicians uses time as a defense towards the incompetency of GLCs or GLOs. Want more examples?
Proton, TNB, RTM, JKR, JPA and the list goes on…
This is Bolehland, apa pun boleh jadi punya!
Not bad what, Proton going to China and going to have sport car, u know …
I tell you, don’t play play ah …
good that you blogged this, the next time something similiar happens and if they still use the same excuses, just forward the link around ;)
Unlike traditional media, where their comments are probably buried somewhere obscure
[...] I’ve to admit that it was a long time ago since I last watch RTM on screen. [...]
[...] Last year, while Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin was still holding the deputy post, he admitted RTM weaknesses and pleaded for more time to put RTM back as the number one on screen. "I admit our weaknesses because we did not portray ourselves as first on scene and the first on the screen. We are working towards achieving this objective and we will get there one day." Then, it was his predecessor Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir who vowed not only for RTM to become the number one, but the best too! [...]
[...] This was a moment I should have enjoyed. But I was angry, ashamed, frustrated. I was not even sure of my appointment. It was not a pleasant moment for me. For the record, this is the third time Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin admitted the similar weakness, however, still, not a single remedial measure is being highlighted. First record of admission was on April 2005. [...]
[...] But, I’ve heard of blank promise since the beginning of year 2005, from the "first on screen" confession to the "last on the scene, last on the screen". [...]