Yesterday, during the winding up of the debate of the Information Ministry’s 1997 budgetary estimates, the Deputy Information Minister, Datuk Dr. Suleiman bin Mohamed, conceded that it is illegal for Asian Satellite Television and Radio Services (ASTRO) to collect subscription fees until the Broadcasting Amendment Bill 1996 has become law.
I welcome Suleiman’s concession on the legal position of ASTRO subscription fees, although it has taken the Deputy Information Minister seven weeks to do so since I raised the matter in Parliament during the debate on the Broadcasting Amendment Bill - but it is better late than never.
When making this concession, Suleiman hoped that “we can shake hands” on the issue. I am always prepared to “shake hands” with Suleiman on the issue, as DAP MPs are not out to create trouble for anyone, but merely discharging our duty to protect the public interest and to provide a check on the government to ensure that it does not abuse its powers or act illegally - which is even more essential as the Barisan Nasional now controls about 90 per cent of the parliamentary seats!
During the debate on the Broadcasting Amendment Bill in mid-October, in trying at that time to rebut my contention that ASTRO’s satellite broadcasting services are not legal yet, as the amendment bill had not been passed and become law, Suleiman said that the Minister of Information had issued a licence to MEASAT Broadcast under Section 4 of the Broadcasting Act 1988 to operate as a broadcasting station.
This is another anomaly and contradiction which must be cleared. If the Information Minister has the power to issue a licence to MEASAT Broadcast to operate as a broadcasting station, then ASTRO should be able to impose and collect subscription fees for its satellite broadcasting services.
However, as the Deputy Information Minister has now admitted that ASTRO cannot as yet collect subscription fees, this means that the Information Minister had no power to issue a satellite broadcasting licence to MEASAT as yet - until the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill has become law, which has to await three further stages of legislation: passage by Dewan Negara, Royal Assent by the Yang di Pertuan Agong and government gazette.
In the interest of the rule of law, the Information Minister, Datuk Mohamed Rahmat should state clearly whether and when he had issued a broadcasting licence to MEASAT Broadcast for the ASTRO satellite broadcasting, and whether he had issued this licence with the approval of the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Cabinet. Furthermore, why the issue of this licence by the Information Minister has not yet been gazetted!
(5/12/96)