In the 1980's, my graduation thesis was A Comparative Study of Viewing and Listening Habits of the three main races in Penang based on samples taken from low cost flat dwellers in three housing schemes. The findings then showed that tv viewing was an important activity. While reminiscing this evening, I thought about the functions of our main broadcasting station then and now and decided to see if indeed these have changed in tandem with the political landscape.
As many of us know, Radio Televisyen Malaysia is under the Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture. Wikipedia provides some information of RTM at THIS LINK. The official website HERE gives the history and development of Radio Televisyen Malaysia. This link HERE reveals that Datuk Ibrahim Yahaya is currently the Director General of the Department of Broadcasting Malaysia.
Interestingly, I googled his name and discovered that he has a few blogs, one of which is called Dunia Tiger. Previously, he was chief news editor of Berita Harian. Then he moved to TV3 as an editor. After a stint at Berita publishing, he became media consultant to RTM (2005-2007). In September 2008, became Media Advisor to Minister of Information and was subsequently appointed as Director General of Broadcasting, Ministry of Information Communications and Culture on March 16, 2009. I am not surprised as he has such a sterling record in the media industry.
Upon close examination of his blog, I am very impressed with his mastery of Bahasa Malaysia. His blog examines various interesting issues - from World Cup Football to politics to personal experiences and of course political issues as well.
One particular blog post caught my attention - Bengkel Transformasi RTM. This particular blog post reveals the functions of RTM (the official version can be accessed HERE).
Excerpt from his blog:
If your BM is rusty like mine, perhaps you might want to use Google Translate HERE (It is not a very accurate translation but did help me to understand it better).
He is a fan of TDM as seen in THIS POST and also very expressive wrt Anwar as expressed HERE.
According to a friend who writes fantastic articles in Facebook, Vijay Kumar Murugavell, if you watch the news on RTM 1 in the morning, you can have a good idea of what to expect in the political scene. In one of his posts HERE, he said, "Switch off your TV especially RTM 1 and read the Federal Constitution until you understand how this document protects the rights of all, including ignorant citizens like you, and how it makes nationhood possible."
Decades ago, as a mass communications undergraduate, I learnt that broadcasting stations have to fulfil functions to provide:
* information
* education
* entertainment
* propaganda
As a retiree in my twilight years, I can see the fourth function is getting more and more pronounced to cope with the changing mood and trend of governance. I remember how in the 1960's and 1970's, forms of government propaganda were mainly via advertisements or through the screening of music video clips of patriotic songs such as "Berjaya" or "Setia" (which incidentally is one of my firm favorites).
CLICK HERE to listen to SETIA.
In case you did not know, "Setia" was written by the late Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat. In his political memoirs, Umno: Akhir Sebuah Impian (Umno: The End of a Dream), he explains how his ministry’s campaigns, such as Setia (Loyalty), were actually a response to the Team A versus Team B split in Umno in 1987.
The Star reported HERE:
It is clear that it is a completely different ball game today. The times are a-changing, and programming is different from what it was during the days of Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat. If "Setia" had been launched in the current political climate, I am sure the reaction would be different from what it was in the past. Also, I would not be surprised if the audience size has also shrunk considerably. Certainly, if I were to conduct the same study that I carried out in the 1980's, the results would also be different.
How many of us actually watch RTM channels? I have not watched any TV program in the last 5 years. I cancelled my Astro subscription last year upon realization that I had been donating $$ to Astro for some time :-).
Whilst I would not be surprised if those with net access may know the truth, I am quite concerned about how there could be pockets of Malaysians who still rely on MSM for information without cross-checking with other websites or sources of information.
Clearly, Pakatan Rakyat is at a distinct disadvantage compared to BN which has at their disposal broadcasting stations and the probable unspoken support of MSM. Their only firm avenue seems to be their own publications (which continue to be at the mercy of the Home Ministry) and of course the alternative media.
Suffice to say the next time you read or watch any news article/programme, analyze it carefully to see if there are underlying messages. Don't be deceived or tricked by anyone.
As many of us know, Radio Televisyen Malaysia is under the Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture. Wikipedia provides some information of RTM at THIS LINK. The official website HERE gives the history and development of Radio Televisyen Malaysia. This link HERE reveals that Datuk Ibrahim Yahaya is currently the Director General of the Department of Broadcasting Malaysia.
Interestingly, I googled his name and discovered that he has a few blogs, one of which is called Dunia Tiger. Previously, he was chief news editor of Berita Harian. Then he moved to TV3 as an editor. After a stint at Berita publishing, he became media consultant to RTM (2005-2007). In September 2008, became Media Advisor to Minister of Information and was subsequently appointed as Director General of Broadcasting, Ministry of Information Communications and Culture on March 16, 2009. I am not surprised as he has such a sterling record in the media industry.
Upon close examination of his blog, I am very impressed with his mastery of Bahasa Malaysia. His blog examines various interesting issues - from World Cup Football to politics to personal experiences and of course political issues as well.
One particular blog post caught my attention - Bengkel Transformasi RTM. This particular blog post reveals the functions of RTM (the official version can be accessed HERE).
Excerpt from his blog:
Sebenarnya RTM perlu memastikan kecemerlangan selama ini diteruskan dengan pendekatan terbaru yang lebih dinamik, kreatif, menarik, semasa dan idea di luar lingkungan terutama dalam menyebarluaskan program terbaru kerajaan iaitu Gagasan 1Malaysia.
Sebagai tonggak utama Kementerian Penerangan Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan, RTM selalu diperhati dan dipantau dari setiap segi terutama Bahagian Berita dan Ehwal Semasa (BES) selain Bahagian Perolehan Filem yang menjadi tumpuan industri kreatif.
RTM mahu dilihat sebagai saluran penyiaran yang mampu mententeramkan rakyat ketika sesuatu dasar radikal dilaksanakan. Dasar yang tidak dipolitikkan tidak susah untuk disebarluaskan. Menceritakan kesulitan kerajaan jika amalan subsidi diteruskan di samping menangkis pembohongan yang sengaja dibuat terhadap kerajaan. Apalah kata...Felda Dah Bankrap. Ish...ishh..ishh.
Sejajar sebagai jurucakap kerajaan, RTM sentiasa dikehendaki mendokong progam terbaru kerajaan agar rakyat mengetahui, memahami dan mengamalkan dasar itu. Empat tumpuan utama kerajaan sekarang ialah Gagasan 1Malaysia, Pelan Transformasi Kerajaan (GTP), Model Baharu Ekonomi(MBE) dan Rancangan Malaysia Kesepuluh (RMK10).
If your BM is rusty like mine, perhaps you might want to use Google Translate HERE (It is not a very accurate translation but did help me to understand it better).
He is a fan of TDM as seen in THIS POST and also very expressive wrt Anwar as expressed HERE.
According to a friend who writes fantastic articles in Facebook, Vijay Kumar Murugavell, if you watch the news on RTM 1 in the morning, you can have a good idea of what to expect in the political scene. In one of his posts HERE, he said, "Switch off your TV especially RTM 1 and read the Federal Constitution until you understand how this document protects the rights of all, including ignorant citizens like you, and how it makes nationhood possible."
Decades ago, as a mass communications undergraduate, I learnt that broadcasting stations have to fulfil functions to provide:
* information
* education
* entertainment
* propaganda
As a retiree in my twilight years, I can see the fourth function is getting more and more pronounced to cope with the changing mood and trend of governance. I remember how in the 1960's and 1970's, forms of government propaganda were mainly via advertisements or through the screening of music video clips of patriotic songs such as "Berjaya" or "Setia" (which incidentally is one of my firm favorites).
CLICK HERE to listen to SETIA.
In case you did not know, "Setia" was written by the late Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat. In his political memoirs, Umno: Akhir Sebuah Impian (Umno: The End of a Dream), he explains how his ministry’s campaigns, such as Setia (Loyalty), were actually a response to the Team A versus Team B split in Umno in 1987.
The Star reported HERE:
“I had to bring Malay loyalty back to Umno. And I had to raise a presumption that anybody who supported (Team B led by Tengku Razaleigh then) was not loyal. I went all out in this psychological warfare,” he writes.
“The Malays were numb to political arguments ... I needed something that penetrated the heart. I needed a song.”
So he wrote one himself: the famous Setia song with its supposedly patriotic lyrics (“Demi negara yang tercinta”, or “For our beloved country”, goes the first line) that was broadcast for years especially via the Government’s RTM (Radio Televisyen Malaysia) stations.
Tok Mat admits in his book that he first used Information Ministry staff in 1977 on a “mission” to topple the PAS State Government of Kelantan.
It is clear that it is a completely different ball game today. The times are a-changing, and programming is different from what it was during the days of Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat. If "Setia" had been launched in the current political climate, I am sure the reaction would be different from what it was in the past. Also, I would not be surprised if the audience size has also shrunk considerably. Certainly, if I were to conduct the same study that I carried out in the 1980's, the results would also be different.
How many of us actually watch RTM channels? I have not watched any TV program in the last 5 years. I cancelled my Astro subscription last year upon realization that I had been donating $$ to Astro for some time :-).
Whilst I would not be surprised if those with net access may know the truth, I am quite concerned about how there could be pockets of Malaysians who still rely on MSM for information without cross-checking with other websites or sources of information.
Clearly, Pakatan Rakyat is at a distinct disadvantage compared to BN which has at their disposal broadcasting stations and the probable unspoken support of MSM. Their only firm avenue seems to be their own publications (which continue to be at the mercy of the Home Ministry) and of course the alternative media.
Suffice to say the next time you read or watch any news article/programme, analyze it carefully to see if there are underlying messages. Don't be deceived or tricked by anyone.
IbnAbdHalim Propaganda is the top agenda of the BN government that goes through the TV and radio channels, together with the mainstream media. I totally cut myself off from those media since refomasi days.