By Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
SONGKHLA, Thailand – The Ipoh City Council (MBI) is paving the way for a strategic collaboration with Thailand’s public broadcaster, NBT Songkhla, while enhancing the role of its official channel, Radio TV MBI, as a communication medium for city residents.
Ipoh City Councillor Datuk Ahmad Hariri Kamarudin said Radio TV MBI, which currently operates fully online, will continue to expand its functions to deliver information more effectively to the public.
He said the initiative followed a recent visit by an MBI delegation accompanied by 20 Perak media practitioners to Hat Yai, which provided valuable exposure to Thailand’s broadcasting operations.
“We gained many insights that can be applied in Ipoh. The tour of NBT Songkhla’s recording studio and control room offered a clearer picture of how collaboration between both sides can be developed,” he said.
The delegation was also given a briefing on the station’s operations and toured its main studio, newsroom, and control facilities.
NBT Songkhla, established in 1962, serves as the official broadcasting channel of the Thai government, covering 14 southern provinces, including Songkhla, Satun, Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat.
Hariri, who also chairs MBI’s Tourism, Arts, Culture and Heritage sub-committee, said the partnership would include proposed media exchange programmes between Ipoh and Hat Yai.
“We plan to invite NBT Songkhla representatives to Ipoh for further discussions. The Mayor of Ipoh has also expressed full support for strengthening Radio TV MBI as a key communication platform,” he said.
Meanwhile, NBT Songkhla director Phatompong Kaewbandit welcomed the proposal, describing it as a meaningful step towards strengthening people-to-people ties between Malaysia and Thailand.
He added that the collaboration would not only benefit the media but also help combat fake news while boosting tourism and economic activities in both countries.
