DJ Jamal is back with new online radio station
Popular Chinese radio DJ Jamaluddin Ibrahim, who was sacked by MCA-owned 988FM radio station for his critical views, is back on the airwaves, albeit through the Internet.
Popular Chinese radio DJ Jamaluddin Ibrahim, who was sacked by MCA-owned 988FM radio station for his critical views, is back on the airwaves, albeit through the Internet.
The new tri-lingual station, DurianFM.com, promises freedom of expression away from the clutches of government censors and promotion of human rights.
“This is the milestone in Malaysian history to promote freedom of speech and humanity,” said Jamaluddin (left) during launch ceremony of his new venture at Petaling Jaya today.
Jamaluddin said that unlike conventional radio stations, DurianFM.com does not require a broadcast permit from the Malaysia Multimedia and Communication Commission (MCMC).
“There will be no censorship. People will have more freedom in expressing their views via the radio station... We will invite people from different stand or background to here to exchange views,” he said.
Jamaluddin told reporters later that he had named his new radio station after a durian fruit because the fruit is very symbolic to Malaysians.
“The pronunciation of ‘durian’ in English, Malay and Chinese is almost the same, it’s very easy to remember. We’ll have listeners throughout the world,” he said, adding that the name elicted good response from Facebook acquaintances.
He said that online radio stations are becoming increasingly popular in Hong Kong, Taiwan and the United States, adding that this niche industry was now becoming a “real business”.
Among others at the launch were Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, Selangor state legislative assembly speaker Teng Chang Khim, Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, Selangor exco member Teresa Kok, Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita) president Zaid Ibrahim, Gerakan Youth chief Lim Si Pin and social activist Hishamuddin Rais.
Some of them even ventured into the studio and appeared on air.
DurianFM.com is on air 24 hours a day and has 36 live programmes weekly. Currently, the line up includes 25 deejays and 15 guest deejays. The station does not have any full time staff.
