Cabinet pulls plug on Umno live telecast
Malaysiakini.com
Nov 23, 2006

The cabinet has agreed to recommend switching off live televised of Umno general assembly following a public outcry over racially sensitive speeches.

The cabinet said the screening of live debates should be reconsidered during the ruling party's annual general assembly after some delegates made "extreme" speeches.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said the live telecast was viewed as inappropriate as it gave a distorted picture of the ruling Umno proceedings during its key general assembly.

"The cabinet has come to the conclusion that there are more negative than positive implications from the live telecast of the opening proceedings of Umno," Najib, who is also the deputy president of Umno, told reporters.

"It has given an inaccurate picture of the proceedings of the general assembly," Najib said.

He said the debates of the general assembly which were aired live on cable television Astro had showcased at least three speeches that could be deemed as "extreme."

However, he said the final decision to pull the plug on future live telecasts lies with Umno's supreme council, the party's highest leadership.

"One or two delegates had gone overboard in their speeches. The tendency was to play up to the gallery," he said, adding that any action to be taken against the speakers would be up to the authorities.

Bathe in blood

Some of the fiery and emotional rhetoric used against the country's minority races sparked concerns about their economic and religious rights in the multicultural nation.

Some delegates had said that the Malays must be willing to fight "to the last drop of blood" to defend their rights.

Another speaker had warned minorities to stop questioning the rights of the Malays and not to test their patience.

Race relations have become increasingly strained recently amid a campaign for religious freedom by activists and a series of controversial court cases.
    
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