Be they deliberately comic or decidedly serious in intent, local television programmes have certainly mushroomed virtually unabated over the past decade or so. This, of course, has been aided by the emergence of new television stations like ntv7, the out of commission Metrovision, and, of course, satellite television, in the shape of the recently-deemed "unpatriotic" Astro.

Many may perceive these as being positive developments which bode well for the short and long term future of local television.

After all, it is constantly asserted that such developments will help in curtailing our dependence on imported programmes. At the same time, so continues this assertion, they will also provide the right environment, in a manner of speaking, for the harvesting of hand-sown and home-grown products.

Even sceptics, who initially saw the move by RTM to totally localise TV1 and dump all the imports in the slots on TV2 as merely being a not-too-clever juggling of schedules, have had to admit that what has transpired is actually more than that.

But exactly how much more is a different question altogether.

Granted, the scheduling of television programmes looks much neater now. Equally true, the number of locally-produced programmes has increased perceptively.

But what is also true is that local programmers appear to have a depressingly simple conception of what "increasing local content" entails.

Evidently devoid of creative impulses, they have conveniently interpreted this to mean producing more of the same television genres, based on the same, tired formulae.

Hence, what is generally evident is that the increase in local content has meant a greater increase in fictional genres as opposed to factual ones. And even then, the factual programmes, many times bordering on pure fiction too, are depressingly similar in form, format and, more especially, content.

Issues - economic, political, social, cultural or religious - when finally addressed in these programmes, are invariably discussed within the official discourse, with hardly any leeway being given for alternative interpretations.

Gemilang Malaysia (TV1, Thursday) is certainly one of these programmes. It pretends to be a current affairs talk show, with interviews with the so-called public blatantly thrown in to support the one-sided stands it takes.

But really, Gemilang Malaysia is nothing more than cheap - and terribly disingenuous - propaganda for the BN, more especially for Umno. It is so irritatingly inane, with a fawning presenter lapping up virtually everything the guest politicians (Rafidah Aziz and Syed Hamid Albar were the honoured ones this week) have to say.

Indeed, the three main topics "discussed" this Thursday were the three S's - Singapore, Sanggang and the Split (among the Malays). The segment on the recent Singapore Straits Times piece criticising the Malaysian government was especially predictable... and pathetic. It was reminiscent of primary school kids slugging it out over a bag of marbles.

Sure, some of us may have been offended by the article (though it's doubtful that many actually read it). But there's really no need to go overboard and react in such jingoistic fashion. Then again, hey, this is after all TV1, the Information Ministry's No. 1 propaganda channel.

The Sanggang segment was essentially a "well-done-pat-on-the-back" piece of self-congratulation that lacked analysis and plainly was a waste of time. So, the less said the better.

What was especially heart-rending (some might say stomach-churning) was the appeal by host and guests for Malay Malaysians to bury the hatchet (not in each other's heads, mind you) and mend the split which essentially is hurting Umno.

And when you put it that way, as Gemilang Malaysia more or less did, then, of course, you'd have to look for common enemies from within the country (would that be PAS, I wonder?) and from without (that snooty little island down south will do plus, of course, all those western imperialists and their despicable media).

To paraphrase Rafidah's comment, "We (Malays) are a small family. We really need to unite in the wake of threats which have the potential to tear us - and Malaysia - asunder."

That touching comment of course would have brought tears to the eyes of the most ardent Umno supporters. At the same time, it would have probably left many others cold or, at worse, set them rolling about in the aisle.

That the split could have originated - indeed, did originate - from within Umno, of course, was never discussed.

But then again, to belabour the point, this is after all TV1, the Information Ministry's No. 1 propaganda channel.

Granted, given the so-called "guidelines" to which programmes like Gemilang Malaysia have to strictly adhere and, more especially, given the groups which control these television stations, asking for anything more credible and balanced would be akin to asking for the moon.

But ask we certainly must. After all, it is largely the taxpayers' (read "our") money that's being used to run organisations like RTM.

That being the case, we must demand that we get our money's worth. We must put a stop to being insulted by inane, unprofessional, one-sided "factual" programmes which belong in the 1960s and not 40 years on.

We must, indeed, begin to seriously demand that RTM especially, and local television generally, start playing a wider public service role that goes beyond merely serving party and petty politicians.