KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 — Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek today proposed that government-owned Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) be allowed to place cameras in vote-counting centres during elections to provide live coverage of the tallying process.

Shabery stressed that the public was now seeking “real-time” coverage of events by the media.

“I will discuss with SPR to ask for permission to place RTM cameras in the vote-counting rooms,” the new communications and multimedia minister said in a speech at a forum here, referring to the Election Commission (EC) by its Malay acronym.

When asked if the proposal was within the EC’s rules and guidelines, Shabery later told reporters that he would check with the commission.

“I will discuss with the EC whether this is allowed,” he said.

Asked if the proposal to place cameras would only include RTM, he said: “RTM is a government channel, they should be given the right.”

“I will discuss with SPR to ask for permission to place RTM cameras in the vote-counting rooms,” the new communications and multimedia minister said in a speech at a forum here, referring to the Election Commission (EC) by its Malay acronym.

When asked if the proposal was within the EC’s rules and guidelines, Shabery later told reporters that he would check with the commission.

“I will discuss with the EC whether this is allowed,” he said.

When asked if the proposal to place cameras would only include RTM, he said: “RTM is a government channel, they should be given the right to inform the people.”

During his speech, Shabery noted that RTM, once considered a conservative media outlet, was now moving progressively.

He pointed to the broadcaster’s daily 90 minutes live-broadcast of Question Time in Parliament on national television, as well as RTM’s daily live-streaming of the whole Parliament session on the internet as proof.

He said that it used to be “taboo” for opposition leaders to speak live on television, but pointed out in the same speech that the live broadcasts and streaming of Parliament are not edited.

“Now RTM should lead the way. None will be able to compete from the real-time aspect,” he later said.