MIRI: Sarawak’s ethnic languages may likely be accorded more radio airtime to enhance delivery of information pertaining to the federal government’s policies and provision of assistance.
The Communications and Multimedia Ministry’s special functions officer Dr Dusit Jaul said radio was still a relevant medium for the interior of Sarawak and the best approach in conveying information to the communities.
“The airtime for Iban language is 18 hours, maybe airtime for other ethnic languages needs to be increased; it is being studied,” he told a press conference during an official visit to the Information Department here yesterday.
He said many communities in Sarawak’s interior were not aware of the federal government’s latest initiatives to help the people and radio could help to deliver such information. Aside from studying the likelihood of increasing airtime for other ethnic languages, he said grouses about the poor quality of radio transmission in certain parts of the state would also be attended to.
On the National Gawai Dayak 2019 celebration on May 18 in Bintulu, he said the Malaysian National Film Development Corporation (Finas) had agreed to record the various cultural activities on that day and would produce them as a 30-minute Gawai documentary for television on June 1.
Dusit said there were also plans with Sarawak Finas to produce more Sarawak ethnic documentaries which could be made a national treasure and at the same time boost the national tourism industry.
For the record, Gawai Dayak is celebrated annually on June 1 and June 2 in Sarawak.
Earlier during his visit, Dusit cautioned ministry staff against making negative postings in social media such as Facebook and Whatsapp, which could potentially tarnish their own image or that of their department. – Bernama
