MALAYSIA NEEDS CREATIVE & VIABLE PLAYWRIGHTS - MINISTER

SHAH ALAM (Malaysia), June 19 (Bernama) -- Information Communication and
Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said Malaysia needs creative abd viable
playwrights or dramatists to enhance the content and quality of local dramas.

Many local elements that could be highlighted to draw the interest if
viewers in Malaysia like the life of the younger generation and Sabah and
Sarawak cultures, he told reporters after making a brief visit to publishing
firm Kumpulan Karangkraf Sdn Bhd here Thursday.

He was commenting on the flood of serial dramas from neighbouring countries
on local television.

Rais said the ministry has the power under the Communications and Multimedia
Act 1998 to instruct private television stations to give priority to local drama
programmes but such a move would be taken in stages.

The ministry would not take hasty measures because it wanted to educate the
private stations on the importance of giving priority to local programmes, he
said.


-- BERNAMA