RTM STREAMLINES 'WARTA SERUMPUN' TO BE MODEL FOR ASEAN

By Mohd Nasir Yusoff

JAKARTA, March 19 (Bernama) - Malaysia's national broadcasting station Radio
Television Malaysia (RTM), and 'Televisi Republik Indonesia' (TVRI) will tighten
further the joint news programme 'Warta Serumpun' which is now being used as a
model for similar programmes with the other Asean member countries.

Malaysian Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said he had initiated
preliminary discussions with his Indonesian counterpart, Prof Dr Muhammad Nuh on
efforts to streamline the 30-minute news programme which was first broadcast on
Aug 17, last year in conjunction with Indonesia's 63rd independence anniversary.


"I understand TVRI will also use 'Warta Serumpun' as a similar model with
the other Asean nations. So, we will tighten it up to be streamlined," he told
Bernama, here Wednesday.

The minister is here as a member of the Malaysian delegation in the Annual
Consultation between Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday.

Shabery said among the things to be improved would be the time slot which
should not necessarily be in the evening but could also be in the day time, the
air time could be extended from half-an-hour to one hour which would be
appropriate with the increased broadcast content.

He said, however, further discussion could not be held yet as Indonesia was
busy with the campaign for the general election on April 9.

"I also had the opportunity to discuss with Muhammad Nuh the airing of
advertisements during the 'Warta Serumpun' time slot," he said, adding that for
the time being it was agreed that advertisements on tourism in the two countries
could be aired in the news programme in both countries.

He said advertisements on other products could not be accommodated yet as
there were sensitivities that could be acceptable in Indonesia but not in
Malaysia and vice-versa, including the aspects of presentation and models used
in the advertisements.
-- BERNAMA