At last, MCA debates to go on air tonight
Published: Oct 17, 2008 10:54 AM | Updated: Oct 17, 2008 10:56 AM
The banned MCA debates will finally be broadcasted by television station ntv7 tonight - the eve of the hotly-contested party polls.
Ntv7 held two debates earlier this week between key contestants for tomorrow’s MCA polls.
The banned MCA debates will finally be broadcasted by television station ntv7 tonight - the eve of the hotly-contested party polls.
Ntv7 held two debates earlier this week between key contestants for tomorrow’s MCA polls.
However, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) banned the live telecast of the debates because ntv7 was late in submitting its application.
“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,” the MCMC said in a statement yesterday.
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.
Ntv 7 said that the two debates will be screened back to back, with the deputy president debate to go on air from 10 to 11pm, while the presidential debate from 11pm to midnight.
Censorship Board changes its mind
According to a source in ntv7, the Censorship Board had informed the television station this afternoon that both debates had been approved without any changes being made.
Yesterday, the board had delayed the broadcasting of the deputy president debate because it said it required a three-day notice. It is not known why the board has suddenly decided to waive that condition.
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.
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.
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.
Polling for the contests will be held at the MCA headquarters tomorrow afternoon.
Ntv7 held two debates earlier this week between key contestants for tomorrow’s MCA polls.
However, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) banned the live telecast of the debates because ntv7 was late in submitting its application.“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,” the MCMC said in a statement yesterday.
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.
Ntv 7 said that the two debates will be screened back to back, with the deputy president debate to go on air from 10 to 11pm, while the presidential debate from 11pm to midnight.
Censorship Board changes its mind
According to a source in ntv7, the Censorship Board had informed the television station this afternoon that both debates had been approved without any changes being made.
Yesterday, the board had delayed the broadcasting of the deputy president debate because it said it required a three-day notice. It is not known why the board has suddenly decided to waive that condition.
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.
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.
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.
Polling for the contests will be held at the MCA headquarters tomorrow afternoon.
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