Minnal FM South Perak

Minnal FM Frequencies in Perak area

In 1991, RTM upgraded all national radio station to FM band. Minnal FM frequency is on 98.9MHz in Ipoh and Central Perak since 1991 until today. Its reception in many South Perak areas was quite clear in between year 1991-1996. In 1996, when Chinese radio station, Redi FM 98.8 was established on 98.8MHz and its transmitter site was located in Gunung Ulu Kali, Genting Highlands, which can cover Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, South Perak, West Pahang, and northern parts of Negeri Sembilan, even can cover up to Tapah, Teluk Intan and Sitiawan, it caused big interference/crash between Minnal FM 98.9MHz from Ipoh and 988 98.8MHz from Klang Valley in many South Perak area, also in Teluk Intan and Sitiawan, even cannot receive 98.9 there anymore. When you go to Perak area like Sungkai, Teluk Intan and Bidor and tune on 98.9MHz, you will hear the interference from 988.

This interference between Minnal FM 98.9MHz and 988 98.8MHz in certain of South Perak area also happen until today.

In year 2011/12, I had suggested RTM to change Minnal FM Ipoh frequency to 99.0MHz to provide better reception for those areas, but RTM said that Minnal FM used 98.9MHz for Ipoh area is earlier than 988 98.8MHz and their radio system is 6+1, means that 6 transmitter share with 1 standby antenna. The solution is 988 listeners tune 99.8MHz in these area, meanwhile Minnal FM listeners must tune to 96.3MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali in South Perak and Teluk Intan.

Since Minnal FM has 4 frequencies can be received in South Perak and Teluk Intan, there are 107.9, 98.9, 96.3, and 104.3. I only suggest the 107.9 to RTM for boosting up the transmission power of 107.9MHz to cover South Perak as alternative frequency to 98.9MHz because Minnal FM 107.9MHz has no interference from any radio stations, even no any radio stations used the frequencies between 107.6-108.0MHz, unless iM4U FM 107.9MHz located its transmitter site in Gunung Ulu Kali, so Minnal FM 107.9MHz cannot be received anymore in South Perak and Teluk Intan anymore, then have to tune to 96.3MHz there, but currently iM4U FM 107.9 transmitter site is located in Bukit Sungai Besi, which cover only Kuala Lumpur and certain area in Selangor.

It is perfect if Minnal FM 107.9MHz from Bukit Larut is very clear as hitz.fm 93.6, and MIX FM 91.3 in South Perak. Although hitz.fm and MIX FM in South Perak area are 92.7/92.9 and 94.3/94.5 respectively, but their frequencies from Taiping (93.6 for hitz.fm and 91.3 for MIX FM) are still able to be received there.

Current the transmission power of Minnal FM Bukit Larut transmitter consists 500W/0.5kW only, it can't fully cover South Perak and Teluk Intan, although RTM boosts up its power to 1kW. 96.3MHz in Tapah and Teluk Intan is better.

Frequencies of Minnal FM in Perak

- 96.3MHz (Tanjung Malim, Behrang, Slim River, Trolak, Sungkai, Bidor, Tapah, Teluk Intan, Kampung Gajah, Langkap, Bagan Datoh, and Chenderong Balai)
- 98.9MHz (Ipoh, Kampar, Manjung, Sitiawan, Lumut, Ayer Tawar, Bota, Seri Iskandar, Batu Gajah, Manong, Perak Tengah, and Sg. Siput)
- 107.9MHz (Taiping, Parit Buntar, Selama, Kuala Kangsar, Padang Rengas)
- 100.0MHz (Gerik)
- 93.3MHz/96.7MHz (Pengkalan Hulu and Klian Intan)