The state-owned RTM station will not provide air time for opposition parties during the election campaign period, said Deputy Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin today.

He said these parties have other mediums to propagate their campaign, namely the Internet.

"The Information Ministry feels that to accept the opposition's application to use the official media is against the principle of the establishment of RTM - which is for the government to disseminate information.

"In addition, (RTM's) licence is no longer paid using the people's money and therefore it could be seen as wholly-owned by the government," said the deputy minister in his winding-up speech on the 2004 budget.

On the proposal by Dr Hassan Ali (PAS-Parit Buntar), he said RTM will not have a live broadcast of Dewan Rakyat sittings since reports on them can be found in the other media.

Zainuddin then took a shot at the opposition saying that while the mainstream media provided a platform for the opposition, the parties respective organs did not give the same opportunity to the government.

Controversial series

The deputy minister also denied the claim that the controversial series 'Kelantan Dalam Gerhana and Isu Air di Kelantan had caused unhappiness among the people in the state.

He backed his claim with a 'survey' on 300 respondents in the PAS-controlled state who watched at least half of the 21 Kelantan Dalam Gerhana episodes which ended last September.

He said the findings revealed that 90 percent of the respondents agreed that Kelantan has gained much from the federal government while another 89 percent felt that federal government projects has contributed to the state's economic success.

Zainuddin also claimed that 61 percent of the respondents also agreed that the PAS-led government is unable to run the state while others conceded that the state was plagued by many social problems.

"Most of them realise that the series presented all the facts and reality. It shouldn't be viewed as merely government propaganda," he added.