Rais: EC's equal airtime for all political parties proposal to be tabled in Cabinet
KUALA LUMPUR: The Election Commission's (EC) proposal for equal airtime opportunities for all political parties to present their election manifesto will be tabled in Cabinet, said Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.
"The proposal by the EC will be tabled in the Cabinet for approval which could include amendments to the recommendations,"
he told reporters this after delivering the keynote address at a seminar on Thoughts of the Prime Ministers at University Malaya on Tuesday.
"However, the political parties must present their manifestos within the Ministry's set guidelines on the matter. It does not mean the air-time allotted can be used as a free-for-all by the parties," he added.
He noted the move to provide equal air-time was in line with the nation's move towards greater democracy.
He welcomed all political parties to give their suggestions.
On Saturday, EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said the commission had forwarded its proposal to allow air-time for all parties to highlight their manifestos to the voters.
The proposal is in line with the recommendations of the Parliamentary Select Committee for electoral reform following calls for free and fair access to the media for all political parties.
BY MARTIN CARVALHO
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