MCMC explains live TV ban on MCA debates
TV station ntv7's application for the live telecast of the MCA debates came in too late, said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
TV station ntv7's application for the live telecast of the MCA debates came in too late, said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
“As a licensee under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, ntv7 is subject to a special licence condition requiring it to obtain the commission’s prior approval for any live or delayed telecast
programme. This approval must be obtained not less than 14 days prior to the proposed date of the telecast,” said the MCMC in a statement today.
“In addition, the commission notes that there were last-minute changes to the programme format which differed from the application submitted. Accordingly, the application was not approved.”
MCMC, a government agency under the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry, is empowered to regulate matters relating to communications and multimedia activities, including private TV and radio stations as well as Internet websites.
The licencing of private TV and radio stations comes under its purview.
Ntv7 has held two debates this week between key contestants for this Saturday’s MCA polls. 
The debate between deputy president aspirants - former Petaling Jaya Selatan parliamentarian Donald Lim and former health minister Dr Chua Soi Lek - took place on Tuesday night.
Two other candidates for the post, current party secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan and former Penang’s Pengkalan Kota state assemblyperson Lee Hack Teik have both declined to take part in the debate.
One-man presidential ‘debate’
Meanwhile, the presidential debate went ahead despite that it involved only one candidate, former health minister Chua Jui Meng.
The other presidential contestant, Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat, said he was too busy with his ministerial duties to join in the debate.
The one-hour ‘debate’ subsequently turned into a town hall-style forum.
MCMC said that ntv7 may still proceed to broadcast the programme on a recorded basis, subject to the approval of the Censorship Board.
Ntv7 said that it will be broadcasting the deputy president debate tonight at 8.30pm. It added that the Censorship Board has approved the footage without making any changes.
However, hours before the debate was to go on air, the censorship board informed the station that the earliest it can broadcast the debate was tomorrow.
According to the board, it requires a three-day notice.
The television station is also awaiting approval from the censorship board regarding the presidential debate.
Given the three-day notice required by the censorship board, it is now impossible for the station to air the presidential debate as the MCA election will be held on Saturday.
Tee Keat and Ka Chuan, both of whom are ministers, have denied applying pressure on the two government agencies to stop the live broadcast of the debates.
Meanwhile, the outgoing MCA central committee which met this afternoon for the last time, did not discuss the controversial proposal to set up a board of trustees to manage the party's estimated RM1.5 billion of assets.
