Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin appeared to have gone off politics when asked about two controversial issues related to his portfolio.

Quizzed as to whether the state-owned Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) - which is supervised by his ministry - would apologise for broadcasting a report linked to the controversial caricatures of Prophet Muhammad, he declined comment.

"I don't want to comment. Nanti dulu lah (hang on), tunggu lah (wait), sabar lah (be patient). You still have tomorrow right?" he said when pressed as to when a decision would be made.

Met after a press conference on Anugerah Seri Angkasa in Angkasapuri, he said he did not want to politicise the issue and that the ministry's officers had responded over the matter.

Malaysiakini had earlier obtained footage proving that RTM's TV2 Mandarin news had on Feb 3 showed a man reading a newspaper report with two of the caricatures.

It is believed that its sister station, TV1 had also used the same footage, which was provided by an international news agency.

Last week, RTM director-general Abdul Rahman Hamid told malaysiakini that the station would not follow private television networks TV3 and ntv7 in apologising just yet.

The two stations had apologised last Tuesday for a similar blunder.

Subramaniam's intention

As to MIC deputy president S Subramaniam's complaint about inadequate coverage accorded to him by RTM, Zainuddin said he would let the officers concerned deal with the issue.

"I don't want to answer. Let my officer answer it. This's a political issue. If I answer it'll politicise the issue," he reiterated.

Subramaniam had stated his intention to meet with the minister and to bring up his grouses.

"I have noticed that this has been happening for a long time. I don't know why I am not getting enough coverage," he had been quoted as saying by Bernama.

Subramaniam, who is defending his post in the upcoming party election in June, is known to have a strained relationship with long-time president S Samy Vellu.

Samy retained the post unchallenged when nominations closed last Sunday. He has endorsed vice-president G Palanivel to challenge Subramaniam.