A ministerial aide’s complaint that state broadcaster RTM had failed to air speeches by Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun smacks of arrogance, said lawyer Latheefa Koya.

The PKR member said RTM is not the government’s propaganda channel, and urged Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo not to repeat the BN-era media control.

“This press secretary’s threat to ‘roll heads’ smacks of arrogance. There shouldn’t be any such rules where government politician’s speeches must be broadcast.

“The press secretary of the transport minister must realise that RTM is not the government’s propaganda channel! It’s the taxpayers’ money, so we expect a fair and balanced report,” the Lawyers for Liberty executive director said through her Twitter account today.

Loke’s aide, Lim Swee Kuan, had questioned last night whether RTM was trying to sabotage the government after the broadcaster supposedly failed to air Aminuddin’s and Loke’s speeches at the National Chinese New Year Open House in Seremban. 

He said he would lodge an official complaint to Gobind.

Gobind, meanwhile, said he has asked RTM to report on the failure to provide live coverage of the speeches. 

“I have asked them to let me know the details, particularly for the event that they were requested to attend, on the terms and standard operating procedures.

“I have to look into these things before I comment,” he told reporters this morning.