November 14, 2009 20:26 PM

New Group Offers To Take Over Bernama TV

KUALA KLAWANG, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- Bernama TV will undergo a change physically, administratively as well as in terms of its achievement beginning Jan 1, 2010, said Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

He said a group had offered to take over Bernama TV.

"However, I can't disclose the details yet because several matters with regard to the negotiations or transactions have not been finalised," he told reporters after closing the Sekolah Kebangsaan Putra (SKP) Open Day and education awareness campaign for the Orang Asli in the Jelebu district at the SKP, Simpang Durian, near here on Saturday.

"What I can say is that the 24-hour Bernama TV will get a new lease of life and will operate as an authoritative body," he said.

"We are also looking in terms its licence because all this while the status of the licence was rather vague. After this, we will determine the situation and status of the licence so that we can implement it next year and the subsequent years," he said.

On the debt of more than RM16 million owed by Bernama TV, he said it was a corporate debt which had not been paid by the previous shareholders.

"In terms of the law, it should be claimed so that it becomes a responsibility of the investors and also a hope for those who will take over the shares to turn the debt into their capital.

"The legal process is being carried out and we can safely say that it should be settled by the parties concerned," he said.

-- BERNAMA

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