Awesome TV fined RM250,000
MOHAMAD AMREEL IMAN ABD MALEK
SHAH ALAM - Awesome TV has been fined RM250,000 by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for several offences, including operating without a valid licence.
The licence issued to Awesome Broadcasting Sdn Bhd was being used by Awesome Media Network Sdn Bhd instead.
On February 21, MCMC announced that they had opened an investigation against the private television channel under Section 206 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for non-compliance with license conditions.
A month later, MCMC said that they were considering taking action against one of Awesome TV's parent companies for potential violation of Section 36 of the same Act.
Section 36 prohibits the transfer of licence ownership without the written approval of the minister-in-charge for communications and multimedia.
"The offence was sufficient grounds for MCMC to shut down the broadcast station, but instead, they chose to issue a compound against the station," stated a source as quoted by The Vibes today.
Previously, Awesome TV was summoned by the Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil for six offences related to the publication of defamatory materials.
Fahmi said Awesome TV committed its sixth offence when the broadcast station falsely claimed the government having plans to lay off 800,000 civil servants.
The broadcasting station also received criticisms from other media when its Berita 7:57 programme called on Malays to vote in the 15th General Election (GE15) to prevent other races from gaining power.
