Minnal FM

Minnal FM

City	Kuala Lumpur
Broadcast area	West Malaysia
Frequency	Varies depending on its region
First air date	1 April 2005 (2005-04-01)
Format	Contemporary music, infotainment, general
Language(s)	Tamil
Owner	Radio Televisyen Malaysia
Sister stations	Ai FM, Asyik FM, Nasional FM, Radio Klasik FM and TraXX FM
Website	minnalfm.rtm.gov.my

Minnal FM is a Malaysian Indian radio station operated by Radio Televisyen Malaysia. It was the first 24-hour Indian language broadcast service in the world which serves as a source of information and entertainment not only to Malaysian Indian but to people of Indian origin worldwide as well as Indian enthusiasts.

Minnal FM broadcasts on the frequencies of 92.3 and 96.3 MHz in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley from its headquarters at Angkasapuri. Minnal FM is broadcasting on 98.9 MHz in Ipoh, 101.1 MHz in Johor and 107.9 MHz in Taiping. Currently the director of Minnal FM is S. Kumaran.

Etymology

The station was formerly known as Radio 6 and Radio Malaysia Channel 6.

History

Tamil language broadcast in Malaysia started in 1938 together with the three other major languages spoken, namely Malay, English and Mandarin. Initially the programmes were aired from Singapore, Penang and Kuala Lumpur. A well-known broadcaster Mr. Tanjai Thomas supervised Tamil Broadcast from Kuala Lumpur.

During the Japanese occupation in World War II, the broadcast was known as JMPK. T.S. Shanmugam was then the head of Tamil Broadcast. Programmes were then transmitted at the Oriental Building in Mountbatten Road (now Jalan Tun Perak).

When Emergency was declared during the Communist threat in British Malaya in 1948, a special broadcast called " Emergency " was aired along the normal broadcast.

In 1951, Radio Malaya converted a ward in Hospital Tang Ling into a recording studio.

In 1956, the Federal House near Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur became the official Radio House.

Audience shows were later introduced in 1957 when a programme called Kalappadam made its debut. The format of the programme is retained today because of its popularity. Its first programme was broadcast from KL Town Hall (now Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur). In September 1957, a special stage programme dedicated to Bapa Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman was held in Taman Tasik Perdana, Kuala Lumpur as part of the celebrations of Malaysia's independence. The news bulletins were then aired from Singapore, while programmes such as regional news, classical music, radio plays were produced in Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Tanjai Thomas, A. Peter, S. Swaminathan, A.R. Iyer, Rama Iyer, Haneef and Sundaraju Govindasamy were the pioneers in Tamil Broadcasting in Malaysia.

In 1961, R. Balakrishnan became the Head of Indian services. During his leadership, the Indian service bloomed and transmission hours were extended. The Tamil broadcast then changed its name to Bahagian India.

In 1970, the name was changed again to Rangkaian Merah and the unit system was introduced in Malaysia.

In the mid-1970s, Kamala Desigan became the first lady to head the service. The service underwent further expansion under the leadership of Mr Ganapathy and Mr Appadurai. During this period the unit system was abolished and Rangkaian Merah was renamed as Radio 6.

In 1994, V. Poobalan took over as the controller of Radio 6. During his leadership, Radio 6 switched to full FM transmission and became the first 24-hour Indian language broadcast service in the world. The new look and feel of the service was launched on 1 July 1997. The station became very popular among listeners and sponsors as it became more commercial to appeal to a broad base of audience.

In 2001, Universiti Sains Malaysia graduate B. Parthasarathee became the new head of Radio 6. Among the new programmes introduced were Kuralamutham, Vetriyalar Or Arimugam and Ennanggal Vananggal.

On 1 April 2005, Radio 6 was rebranded to Minnal FM. Mr Parthasarathee played an important role in the rebranding process as the head of the section. The rebranding launch was made at Audiotorium Perdana, Angkasapuri, Kuala Lumpur by the then-Minister of Information, Datuk Seri Kadir Sheikh Fadzir. false

In 2006, Minnal FM appointed the new head for the section (Minnal FM), Mr Rajasekaran until 2009 and he was transferred due to personnel conduct in managing the station and reappointed B.Parthasarathee again.However Mr.Rajasekaran was promoted and appointed to Minnalfm again in 2010 and later regain removed due to his personnel conduct and mismanagement by higher authorities. Currently with no choice junior for the position and management Mr.S.Kumaran has been appointed as acting head of Minnalfm.

The DJ's heard most by listeners of Minnal FM Logeswary Ganesan (LG), Buvana Veeramohan, Theyvekgan, Saras Bijin, S.Chitra, Punitha Subramaniam, Johnson, Chelladorai, Hari, Mogan, Sasi, Ravin, Pon Kogilam, Buvaneswary and Prema Krishnan/

Early morning from 6am till 10am listeners will be tuning into MinnalFM's morning show, Kaalai Kathir hosted by Theyvekgan and Buvana Veeramohan. From 10am till 2pm, Ullaasam Urtchagam will be focusing on masala of varieties of regional songs. Ennanggal Vannanggal will be airing from 2pm till 5pm churning out oldies. 5pm till 8pm, Aanatha Thenkatre songs will focus on soft and soothing songs of 80s and 90s. 8pm till 12am Natchatira Megam will be airing non-stop 55 minutes of Malayaalam, Telugu and Tamil songs. 12am to 3am Thalathuthey Vaanam is a special segment dedicated to listeners where they can call-in or send in their text message ( SMS ) to dedicate songs. 3am till 6am Uthaya Kaalam will be focusing on devotional songs, instrumental music and melody songs.

Frequencies

• 92.3 MHz from Kuala Lumpur Tower covers Kuala Lumpur
• 96.3 MHz from Gunung Ulu Kali covers Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, West Pahang and South Perak (Tapah, Bidor, Sungkai, Slim River, Tanjung Malim, Teluk Intan, and Kg. Gajah)
• 107.9 MHz from Maxwell Hill (Bukit Larut) covers Taiping, and North Perak
• 98.9 MHz from Gunung Kledang covers Ipoh, Kampar, Perak Tengah (Seri Iskandar, Parit, Bota and Lambor Kanan), Manjung (Sitiawan, Ayer Tawar, Lumut, Pangkor) and Kinta Valley (Batu Gajah, Tronoh)
• 90.5 MHz from Gunung Telapa Burok covers Negeri Sembilan and Masjid Tanah, Malacca
• 103.3 MHz from Gunung Ledang covers Malacca, and North Johor
• 96.7 MHz from Gunung Jerai covers Penang, Kedah and Perlis
• 101.1 MHz from Gunung Pulai covers South Johor and Singapore
• 103.3 MHz from Bukit Pelindung covers Kuantan, East Pahang and South Terengganu
• 106.7 MHz from Telipot covers Kota Bharu
• 104.3 MHz from Gunung Brinchang covers Cameron Highlands
• 87.9 MHz from Bukit Besar covers Kuala Terengganu
• 100.7 MHz from Bukit Bauk covers Dungun, Terengganu
• 93.3 MHz from Bukit Palong covers Baling, Kedah
• 100.9 MHz from Bukit Bakar covers Machang, Kelantan
• 91.9 MHz from Bukit Istana covers Jerantut, Pahang
• 95.3 MHz from Bukit Bintang covers Besut, Terengganu
• 88.3 MHz from Bukit Tinggi covers Mersing, Johor
• 92.4 MHz from Bukit Tangki Air covers Jeli, Kelantan
• 100.0 MHz from RTM Gerik covers Gerik, Perak
• 98.9 MHz from Bukit Genting covers Penang
• 107.5 MHz from Bukit Dedap covers Sik, Kedah

External links

• Official website