5 Dec 2007

Samoa Opposition MP accuses public broadcaster of bias

3:32 pm on 5 December 2007

The leader of the Samoa Democratic United Party, Asiata Sale'imoa Va'ai, says the public broadcaster, SBC TV, showed bias in providing a special program for the Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, to air his views.

The Prime Minister used the programme to criticise opponents of the government's plan to switch to right hand drive vehicles.

Asiata says the opposition should be given with the same opportunity.

He says Samoa has become a one party state and he hopes the sale of the broadcaster will lead to more balance.

But Asiata says he wants to see legislation in place before the sale is completed to ensure that the new owner of SBC TV and the two radio stations is not pro-government.