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KL rejects criticism of live broadcast of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s funeral

KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian government today (March 30) defended Astro Awani’s live telecast of Lee Kuan Yew’s funeral procession, saying its local broadcast channel probably decided to give full coverage to the event because of its news value.

Some followers have commended Astro Awani for full coverage of the funeral procession on Sunday, March 30 2015.  Photo:Reuters

Some followers have commended Astro Awani for full coverage of the funeral procession on Sunday, March 30 2015. Photo:Reuters

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KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian government today (March 30) defended Astro Awani’s live telecast of Lee Kuan Yew’s funeral procession, saying its local broadcast channel probably decided to give full coverage to the event because of its news value.

Astro Awani’s live telecast of the funeral of Singapore’s first Prime Minister drew anger from some Malaysians on social media, as they questioned the channel’s purpose of giving such prominent coverage of the late leader.

Multimedia and Communications Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Malaysians should not view the live telecast as a mark of respect for Singapore’s founding father, but rather as a programme aired because it was something viewers would want to watch.

“As a news channel, when it reports something, airs something live and so on, it is not seen as a sign of respect, but from the angle of whether something has news value. A news channel is a platform to present news that people want to know about,” the minister said.

He also pointed out that although it is a broadcast channel, Astro Awani has to compete with social media. “If people decide to visit social media sites instead, it will lose its viewership,” he said.

In airing their grievances on Astro Awani’s Facebook page — some of which were riddled with expletives — the upset subscribers accused the Malaysian channel of being “pro-Singapore” in according full coverage to a political leader whom they felt had not had an impact on Malaysia’s history or development.

“If it is a Quranic recital or Ustad Azhar Idrus, I don’t mind. But this? Might as well cancel my Astro subscription,” said a Facebook user who went by the moniker Paksu Yg Punyerr. Another viewer, Mr Fairus Salleh, questioned Lee’s importance to Malaysia and Astro Awani’s choice of news coverage.

“Come one, Awani, why do this coverage? Is he that important? What did he do for this country? Might as well provide news coverage of problems affecting the people,” the viewer said.

Astro Awani officials have not responded to requests for comment.

However, not all comments on the site were negative. Several followers gave the station a pat on the back for broadcasting the live programme.

Mr Prasanth Kumar posted: “Thank you Astro Awani ... good job. And also thanks to all the educated and wise Malaysians .. For the haters ... I wouldn’t wanna waste any words.”

Follower Gabriel Goh added: “By the way, Astro Awani is not showing porn, homosexuals or pork. Merely broadcasting a funeral. Isn’t that what any normal news channel would do?” The MALAY MAIL

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