Why don't Malaysia Tamil radio stations (Raaga & Minnal FM) have tuning frequencies in Sabah and Sarawak?

 

I know several people are feeling curious that why Raaga and Minnal FM don't broadcast in Sabah and Sarawak. Honestly these two Malaysia Tamil radio stations never have tuning frequencies in Sabah and Sarawak until today like other languages radio stations.

 

This is because of demographics and commercial value issue.

 

1. In Sabah and Sarawak, the Indians are the smallest community actually, compare to Chinese, Kadazan-Dusun, Bidayuh, and Iban. 

2. Indians in Sarawak are less than 10000 people, meanwhile in Sabah, the Indians there are about 18000 people, they are usually coming from Peninsular Malaysia who studying and working in Sarawak. I don't see any permanent Indian residents in Sabah and Sarawak so far.

 

I remembered a Malaysia Indian NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) HINDRAF demanded RTM and Astro to expand coverage of Raaga and Minnal FM to East Malaysia which was 10 years ago, but in my opinion, I don't think it works.

 

==Raaga==

1. Raaga is the Peninsular Malaysia's and ASEAN No.1 Tamil radio station, it broadcasts in West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, meanwhile it does not have east coast frequencies like RTM Minnal FM because Time Highway Radio put its east coast frequencies as Gegar which is East Coast Malay radio station to compete against Molek FM and Manis FM. Raaga is a commercial radio station operated by Astro Radio, formerly known as THR Raaga (Raaga was a Tamil radio slot of Time Highway Radio before 2005). 

 

2. As this radio station is running commercial business, I don't think Astro Radio will invest Raaga in East Malaysia by launching frequencies in the major cities such as Kuching and Kota Kinabalu because the coverage expansion to Kuching and Kota Kinabalu for Raaga does not help to gain commercial revenue on this radio station. In addition, the radio audience measurement or radio listenership rating survey by Gfk does not count East Malaysia listeners. If Gfk's Radio Audience Measurement (RAM) survey in Malaysia includes Sabah and Sarawak, then Raaga broadcasts in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu, the listenership rating performance will show no much difference. Hence, it is pointless to launch Raaga in Kota Kinabalu and Kuching via FM radio transmission because these two cities are having very less Indians, compare to Peninsular Malaysia. It is very sufficient that Raaga earns 80% advertising revenue from Indian market in Peninsular Malaysia.

 

==Minnal FM==

1. Unlike Raaga, Minnal FM is the oldest Malaysia's Tamil radio station operated by RTM (Radio Televisyen Malaysia) running government services to Indian community in Peninsular Malaysia. Formerly known as Radio 6 (Tamil), but Minnal FM never reaches coverage in Sabah and Sarawak too.

2. Same reason actually, Indians are very less in Sabah and Sarawak. Hence, RTM does not launch Minnal FM Sabah and Sarawak frequencies.

 

Currently there are no any demand from Indian listeners to launch these Tamil radio stations in East Malaysia because the technology is getting advanced nowadays.

 

If RTM is interesting to expand Minnal FM coverage to Sabah and Sarawak as part of government services, I think Kuching and Kota Kinabalu are the only locations because they are the largest cities in the Borneo state. Then, RTM launches Wai FM Iban in Kuala Lumpur via FM radio frequency transmission, but it is definitely impossible because of demographic issue.

 

As today's technology is getting advanced, Indian listeners in Sabah and Sarawak can tune alternatively via digital platform by following below:

1. Raaga: SYOK app, Raaga YouTube LIVE & Astro/NJOI (Channel 859)

2. Minnal FM: RTMKlik app, MYTV (Channel 703) & Astro NJOI (Channel 873)

 

In conclusion, I don't think it is necessary to launch Minnal FM and Raaga in Kota Kinabalu and Kuching through FM radio frequency transmission due to low number of Indian community in East Malaysia, unless there are huge demand.