RTM's proselytisation in bad taste

RTM has been very insensitive to the other races in this regard, considering the fact that the main aim of any government-backed radio and TV station is to foster peace, unity and goodwill in a multi-racial society such as ours. Instead, RTM has become a tool of the government to spread lies and the election propaganda of the ruling parties.

If ‘Angry Chinaman’ or anyone for that matter watches RTM2 frequently enough, he or she will always notice that the prime time serials are almost always about newly-converted Chinese Muslims. Usually they begin by showing how the person felt so much emptiness in his/her life prior to accepting the religion.

After much emotional and spiritual struggle, he/she became a Muslim. It will then show further struggles and challenges faced by this newly-converted Chinese in making his/her beliefs known to his/her family members and friends. The conclusion to these plots will be that everyone will accept and understand the new convert’s decision and he/she finds life so much more meaningful in his/her newfound faith.

There is nothing wrong in showing a person finding a meaning to his/her life through a newfound faith. My question is, why only limit it to only one religion(Islam)? Why is the government using so much taxpayers money to push a religion that is professed by less than one percent of the Chinese community?

This is not only limited to RTM2. Radio5 (Ai FM) has also become a tool for proselytisation by the government. The five daily Muslim calls to prayer are broadcast daily in Chinese without fail. For the benefit of those who do not tune in to AiFM, there are also weekly khutbah (sermon) in Mandarin by the station too.

I would not be surprised that in future, there will be testimonies and talk shows by new Muslim Chinese converts. While I believe it's the right of Muslims to proselytise, we would also like some form of respect for our rights too. Recently, the mosque near my house started broadcasting a sermon every Thursday night for the whole neighbourhood to listen.

I have absolute no issue if all if proselytisation (in any language) is done by a private television or radio station since they are privately funded and religious freedom (for non-Muslims) is guaranteed by our constitution.

But propaganda through state-owned radio and tv stations makes me feel as though I am living in a communist state! Personally, I find such state-sponsored proselytisation in bad taste and a complete abuse by the government.

I have always believed that whatever is owned by the government is also owned by the rakyat. As such,
Does the information ministry seriously think that it is doing us a favour by promoting one single religion to us?
Does the ministry think that we welcome this bombardment of Islamic proselytisation through TV movies and radio shows?

Source
Malaysiakini