Minnal FM, the Tamil radio station owned by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) is only available in Peninsular Malaysia on radio frequency transmission platform, it is unavailable in Sabah and Sarawak because both states have very less Indians (apporximately below than 300 in major towns/cities).
However, from year 2022 to 2023, my friend, Shafik 1995 captured several Minnal FM frequencies signal in Bintulu, Sarawak through Sporadic E signal propagation from Peninsular Malaysia.
Through Sporadic E propagation, Minnal FM signal availability holds for a while only in Sarawak, but the signal is not available most of the time.
1. FM 98.9MHz Gunung Kledang (1343km)
[Target area: Ipoh and Central Perak]
2. FM 96.3MHz Gunung Ulu Kali (1251km)
[Target area: Selangor and West Pahang]
3. FM 91.9MHz Bukit Istana (1190km)
[Target area: Jerantut, Pahang]
4. FM 90.5MHz Gunung Telapak Buruk (1220km)
[Target area: Negeri Sembilan]
Minnal FM can be tuned in Sabah and Sarawak by following platforms below:
- MYTV
- Astro
- RTM Klik app
Minnal FM, unlike the other 4 national sister stations, are the only national station that doesn't broadcasted nationwide but rather Peninsula-wide. Lower Indian population in East 🇲🇾 rendered Minnal FM broadcast to be unjustified to be established Borneo-wide. Plus, it would only lead to unnecessary FM congestion and interference with state-wide and local FM broadcast. The same logic could also be applied Sarawak and Sabah-based FM radio broadcast had 0 availability in West 🇲🇾 due to lower Sabahan/Sarawakian that doesn't justify the establishment of FM transmission over whole Peninsula. The arrival of ASTRO filled the gap, albeit only in home, not while on the move. Plus, ASTRO was not free. A significant payment was needed. Finally, with the arrival of MYTV and mobile internet, ASTRO radio are slowly ditched. Listening to MYTV radio only require one time purchase of decoder and antenna for old TV or just antenna with digital TV. Listening on the internet platform only require affordable internet package, a desktop/laptop/tablet/smartphone, accessing either through the radio station website or the apps.
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