Batam based radio station Hang FM 106.0MHz is jammed by Singapore

Radio Hang FM 106.0MHz is Batam based Islamic radio station of Indonesia. Generally it carries Islamic programmes 24 hours a day, no music, but only religious speeches and recite of Quran, even no Nasyid (Islamic related contemporary songs) is available on Hang FM 106.0MHz.

Technically, Hang FM 106.0MHz is not only available in Batam of Indonesia, somewhat it transmits to Singapore and Johor Bahru of Malaysia at 10kW transmission power. In addition, some of people claimed that Hang FM 106.0MHz can be received beyond Johor Bahru border such as Kluang, Simpang Renggam and Pontian. From my listening experience, because I was used to tune to CityPlus FM 106.0MHz (Chinese business radio station based in Negeri Sembilan) in Melaka, North Johor and East Negeri Sembilan, when reception of CityPlus FM 106.0MHz from Gunung Telapak Burok turned weak in Melaka, and North Johor, I could hear Hang FM 106.0MHz co-channel interference signal, this also happened in Felda Lui of Negeri Sembilan and Kemayan of Pahang.

I referred to Singapore news portal which reported in 2016 and 2017. Hang FM 106.0MHz was accused by Singapore authority for spreading extremists and terrorism propaganda, there were 4 Singaporeans detained by police under Internal Security Act (ISA) when they attempted to move to Syria and join ISIS terrorist group. According to Singapore police, 4 of them listened to Hang FM 106.0MHz and became radicalized, then they were searching terrorism content.

In respect of accusation on Hang FM by Singapore, the accused radio station denied the allegations by stating that Radio Hang FM 106.0MHz does not spread extremists propaganda, instead the station management told that Hang FM promotes pure Islamic teaching and anti-terrorism propaganda.

On December 2018, co-founder of Hang FM was questioned by Singapore Immigration Checkpoint Authority (ICA) for 6 hours, and he was banned from entering Singapore.

Although Hang FM 106.0MHz denied Singapore's accusation for spreading terrorism propaganda, but Singapore chooses to jam Hang FM in Singapore to prevent Singaporeans from listening to the radio station.



Hang FM 106.0MHz is not fully jammed like what happens in Korea Peninsular. In Singapore, Hang FM 106.0MHz is jammed partially in Singapore, each jamming interval is 5 seconds. When people listen to Hang FM 106.0MHz via radio, they can listen to the content. After 5 seconds, jamming begins, then the content resumes as usual after 5 seconds from the jamming interval. Next, it gets jammed again after the next 5 seconds.

Average of jamming interval is 5-6 seconds. Actually Hang FM signal jamming happens in Fort Canning, Singapore where I was staying at a hotel.

Hang FM is jammed by Singapore, in Fort Canning, Marina Sands, Suntec, Esplanade and Promenade. Before the controversy, Singapore never jammed any radio stations, but Hang FM is first radio station jammed by Singapore after the controversy was happened.

Beside Singapore jamming against Hang FM, seriously the transmission power of Hang FM 106.0MHz is too high, it already interferes Malaysia Ikim FM 106.2MHz Gunung Pulai coverage, some of Johor areas receive interference signal from Hang FM 106.0MHz when listeners tune to IKIM FM 106.2MHz such as Kota Iskandar, Penggerang, Pasir Gudang, Forest City and Masai.

Hang FM must decrease its transmission power from 10kW to 2kW as its service area is only in Batam. In the future, after radio frequency jamming, Singapore may ban Hang FM website, this will cause listeners cannot access Hang FM via online, even mobile app in Singapore.