Minnal FM

Minnal FM (Radio 6)

Kuala Lumpur
Broadcast area	Peninsular Malaysia
Frequency	Varies depending on its region
Branding	Radio 6
Programming
Language(s)	Tamil
Format	Easy listening and Oldies
Ownership
Owner	Radio Televisyen Malaysia
Sister stations	Radio Klasik (Radio 1) TraXX FM (Radio 4) Ai FM (Radio 5)
History
First air date	1938 (1938)
Links
Webcast	rtmklik.rtm.gov.my/channel/radio/MinnalFM
Website	minnalfm.rtm.gov.my

Minnal FM (Radio 6) as the oldest Malaysian Tamil-language radio station operated by Radio Televisyen Malaysia was first broadcast on 1938. The radio channel are aired in Tamil Language, Malayalam, Hindi and Telugu. It was the first 24-hour Indian language broadcast service for Malaysian Indians. The station mostly plays easy listening and Oldies from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s similar and related to to Oli 96.8FM in Singapore and Raaga in Malaysia as targeting listeners between the age of 50 to now. It is broadcast 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

History

Tamil language broadcast in Straits Settlements 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.

Minnal FM adopts the easy listening and Oldies radio format with the majority of the playlist consisting of Easy listening and Oldies music from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

On daily features Golden Oldies music from the 1950s and 1960s.

National Anthem

At midnight stroke every day along with all RTM national and regional radio stations the national anthem was play as the opening.

Frequency

Radio

Frequencies	Broadcast area	Transmitter site
92.3 MHz	Kuala Lumpur	Kuala Lumpur Tower
96.3 MHz	Selangor	Gunung Ulu Kali
96.7 MHz	Perlis, Kedah & Penang	Mount Jerai
107.9 MHz	Taiping, Perak	Bukit Larut
98.9 MHz	Ipoh, Perak	Gunung Keledang
90.5 MHz	Seremban, Negeri Sembilan	Gunung Telapak Buruk
103.3 MHz	Malacca & North Johor	Mount Ophir
	Kuantan, Pahang	Bukit Pelindung
101.1 MHz	Johor Bahru, Johor & Singapore	Mount Pulai
	Batam, Indonesia
87.9 MHz	Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu	Bukit Besar
106.7 MHz	Kota Bharu, Kelantan	Telipot

Television

TV Platform	Channel
Astro/NJOI	873
myFreeview	703

External links

• Official website