KL radios to lessen foreign songs

KL radios to lessen foreign songs

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's Information Minister Mohamed Ramat ordered local radio stations yesterday to play less foreign songs to help reduce the country's current account deficit, Bernama news agency reported.

"We are playing a lot of foreign songs," he reportedly said. "We want to ensure that even if we have to pay royalties most of it is for local songs."

Among radio stations run by the public broadcaster Radio Television Malaysia (RTM), Mohamad was quoted as saying that Radio One should only play Malay-language songs while Radio Two should boost its Malay song quota.

The three RTM stations providing English, Chinese and Tamil services should also play more Malay-language songs as well as local songs in these languages.