KUALA LUMPUR: Broadcast station Awesome TV has come under fire from social media users after one of its programmes saw its newcasters call on the need for Malay voters to exercise their voting rights if they do not want "other races" to gain control of political power.
The Awesome TV's Berita 7:57 programme, quoting a study which showed that 80 per cent of Chinese people surveyed plan to vote in the 15th General Election (GE15), was slammed for its allegedly racial overtones and fear-mongering.
It is understood that the study cited was done by the Huayan Policy Institute, in partnership with O2 Research Malaysia, Ilham Centre as well as The Star, Sinar Harian, Sin Chew Daily, Malaysia Nanban and Astro Awani.
Observers had however noted that the programme had failed to mention that the 2,354 Chinese voters surveyed possessed varying political inclinations.
Based on the survey, the Chinese respondents who had declared their willingness to come out and vote comprised Pakatan Harapan supporters at 69.36 per cent, followed by the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) at 54.22 per cent, Barisan Nasional (49.29 per cent) and Perikatan Nasional (39.39 per cent).
A video clip of the programme, which went viral on social media, was shared by former Klang member of parliament Charles Santiago via his Twitter account.
Santiago, labeling the segment "racist to the core", claimed that it appeared as if it was planted "to create fear ahead of GE15."
The station, he added, was "behaving unscrupulously and this must be condemned." He also urged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to probe the incident.
Awesome TV, in a reply to a news portal, denied that the segment was racist in sentiment.
"The report is to reinforce responsibilities amongst Malays that they need to exercise their rights as citizens and voters. Otherwise, a government not of their preference shall rule Malaysia to the detriment of their welfare.
"That is the premise of the news reporting and it is not racist in sentiment," the news portal quoted its spokesman as saying.