KUALA LUMPUR, 20 Nov 2008: Chinese talk show What Say You, which was abruptly taken off the air last month, will know its fate by 1st Jan, said Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek.
He said the ministry is still studying whether to continue with the programme, which last aired on 26 Oct. Its primetime slot has since been taken over by another talk show, Easy Talk, which is aired every Sunday at 7pm on RTM2.
The Mandarin-language What Say You regularly featured panelists discussing current affairs. There had been some speculation that the government had pulled the plug because DAP member of parliament (MP) Teresa Kok had been invited on the show.
However, Ahmad Shabery, when met in Parliament yesterday, said What Say You, along with two other talk shows — Bersemuka Dengan Media and Bersama KSU — had been shelved due to a restructuring and rebranding exercise at RTM.
He claimed the talk shows suffered from poor ratings and would be given a facelift before a decision is made on whether they would go back on the air.
He also refuted suggestions from the Chinese media that the shows had been stopped due to participation by opposition leaders and bloggers whose views are critical of the government.
“Teresa Kok was not the only opposition politician invited to RTM, nor is she the last. This morning we invited DAP Bukit Mertajam MP (to RTM for Parlimen Hari Ini); last week we invited (DAP MP for Kepong) Tan Seng Giaw,” pointed out Ahmad Shabery.
Recently, MCA Youth urged the Information Ministry to bring back What Say You as the wing had received many complaints from the Chinese Malaysian community over its shelving. 
