KUCHING: It will be a solid question-and-answer session in Parliament during the 30 minutes of live telecast over RTM, said Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

"Other things like the doa and communications by the speaker will not be included in the live telecast," he told reporters after meeting staff of agencies under his ministry at the RTM auditorium here yesterday.

"If possible, the live telecast will start from the first question."

He said having the live telecast did not mean that the government was weak, although it did not have a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

"We are confident that we have the strength, the quality debate and can give explanations on issues and there is nothing to be scared off," he added.
On whether the ministry had any plans to have live telecast of question-and-answer sessions for the state assemblies, he said it did not.

He also said that as there would be only one television channel for the live telecast, it would not be possible to do so from the state assemblies as they would be holding their sessions almost at the same time.

He also said the ministry would be reviving the "field movie" in Sarawak, which was very popular in the 1960s to the mid 1970s.

The first one will be shown in a month's time in the interior of the state.

Locally known in Sarawak as Wayang Information because it was operated by the Information Department, the field movie in the old days showed mostly black and white documentaries and P. Ramlee films.

But this time, it would be different, he said.

"In terms of presentation, it will have better sound effects, better and latest movies and documentaries."

He said this was a good way to disseminate information to the people, especially those in the interior.

"Works of local artistes will also be shown," Ahmad Shabery added.