Information technology
Freedom for TV viewers
Dr Yee Moh Chai launches an online poll on the use of parabolic antennae
By Oliver Majaham
Pictures by Ille Tugimin
Video by Flanegan Bainon
Malaysia prides itself as one of the few countries where the internet is not censored. But when it comes to what Malaysians can view on TV or see in the cinema, the freedom ends. A recent seizure of 193 parabolic antennae in Sabah by customs officers has caused much unhappiness. And Deputy Chief Minister Dr Yee Moh Chai is the first to call on the federal authorities to allow their use. He has launched an online opinion poll at freedom2info.com today to allow the public to vote on it.
There is no deadline for the poll but Dr Yee said that “we would have enough votes and comments after a few weeks that would be sufficient for us to convey a message to the authorities.”
Dr Yee said the online poll campaign was his own initiative and had nothing to do with his ministry of resource development and information technology.
The public is banned from owning such antennae which officials said were smuggled into Sabah from neighbouring Indonesia. They cost between 300 and 500 ringgit ($96 and $160).
MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems is the only company that is broadcasting satellite TV programmes through its Astro brand. Telekom Malaysia is the other company that can allow embassies, government departments, some hotels and companies to use parabolic antennae for communication and to receive foreign TV programmes. – Insight Sabah
Now watch Dr Yee Moh Chai on video
Posted on December 7, 2011
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