MELAKA: Apart from allowing Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) to air posters and biodata of all candidates contesting in the Melaka polls, the Communications and Multimedia Ministry will also provide space for the candidates to express their aspirations through MelakaFM radio station.

       Its minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the matter had been discussed with the broadcasting department director-general and Melaka broadcasting department director, as part of efforts to help candidates campaign through government official channels.

       "For MelakaFM radio station, I allow the station to help in any way it can, (for candidates) to be given space to come to the studio or make an audio recording to be broadcast by the station.

       "We give the candidates a few minutes to state their aspirations if they are given the opportunity to be elected as people's representatives in the constituency," he said at a press conference after an interview with MelakaFM here Sunday (Nov 14).

       Annuar said that despite the large number of candidates, MelakaFM could coordinate so that all candidates get the same opportunity.

       It is also an additional platform for candidates to campaign on top of using social media, following the strict standard operating procedures (SOP) to campaign in this state election, apart from taking into account poor Internet access in some areas.

       On Saturday (Nov 13), Annuar said that the government would allow RTM to air posters and biodata of candidates contesting in the Melaka polls from Sunday.

       Meanwhile, commenting on whether the method would be used for the Sarawak state election, Annuar said he would first look at the level of infrastructure as there were areas that had no Internet access.

       "We will see how, maybe radio broadcast is better, if television may be a little difficult but the message must be conveyed to voters because it is their right to know before they can elect their representatives, so we will help the process without favour," he said.

       Meanwhile, he said, there are still many candidates who have not provided information to RTM, possibly because the matter was only decided on Saturday and the candidates were too busy campaigning.

       Therefore, he asked the officials, including the political secretary, to contact each candidate because he wanted to be fair to all and did not want anyone to be left out.

       "Although I understand they are busy unless they don't want it then we can't force them. It is an option on top of their other campaigns through Facebook, Twitter and so on," he said. – Bernama

       MELAKA POLLS