RTM should revert the Mandarin news to 8.00 p.m.

MCA Spokesperson Sdr Lee Wei Kiat today criticized the announcement made by the Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture over the rescheduling of the Mandarin news time slot from 8:00 p.m. to 6.30p.m. “The revised time slot for the Mandarin news has inconvenienced viewers who tune into the Mandarin news and also affected the viewership ratings and image of RTM. The Information Ministry should revert the Mandarin news time slot to its previous prime time of 8 p.m.”

Wei Kiat who is also the MCA Information and Communications Bureau Chairman pointed out that the former to the current Ministers tasked with the Information Ministry, have made many schedule changes to the Mandarin news time slot which included the latest, slotting the Mandarin news to RTM 2 from RTM 1 at the new time of 12 noon till 12.30 pm for the afternoon edition and evening edition from 6.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. He also said that, “the latest changes in the time slot will confuse the viewers and make it difficult for them to get used to.”

“Furthermore, 6.30 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. is the time when working adults are on their way home while the housewives are busy preparing dinner for their families. If we were to broadcast Mandarin news at this time, it will only cause inconvenience and much unhappiness to the viewers who will not be in time to watch the news which will result in a plunge in viewership ratings. It will also affect the image and good name of the RTM. Thus, RTM should shift the Mandarin news time back to its former prime time slot of 8.00 pm,” he emphasized.

The MCA spokesperson also urged government departments to think twice before making any decisions especially on the broadcast of Mandarin news through the television stations.

“Mandarin news is the main source of information for the public and watching the news has become part of their daily activities. As a solution, the Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture should decide on a time that is most suitable the public in order to not only achieve its viewership target, but to generate a bigger audience.”