Dissent in Sarawak has gone on air via shortwave radio, with the launching of Radio Free Sarawak transmitting from London twice a day. The aim is to reach people in the interior of Sarawak, where shortwave radio is still an important medium and far from being an anachronism in an age of FM radio, Internet broadcasting, and podcasts.

The broadcasts are, of course, also available live on the Internet and as downloadable podcasts: Episode 1 and Episode 2

Radio Free Sarawak, in name and spirit, recalls the days of the Cold War, when dissenters to authoritarian regimes were forced to go underground and news came via western-backed radio stations such as the relatively neutral BBC, or the more propagandistic Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty. Newer stations of interest in Asia are Radio Free Asia (in Khmer, Vietnamese, Chinese and other languages), Voice of Mesopotamia (in Kurdish), Democratic Voice of Burma, Radio Farda (in Farsi), Echo of Hope (in Korean) and Falun Gong radio (in Chinese).

The Sarawak broadcasts are transmitted on the shortwave frequency of 7590 kHz, at the high end of the 41 metre band, from 6.30-7.30am and repeated at 6-7pm on 15680 kHz in the 16 metre band. While reception should be fair at the 41m band, it will probably be more crackly at 16m if past experience is any guide (atmospheric conditions willing).

Malaysiakini reports that the programmes will carry content produced by local NGOs and community leaders. Malaysiakini’s anonymous source said: “We found that many use short-wave radios to tune in to RTM broadcasts.”

Radio Malaysia KL’s four language stations were once transmitted in shortwave (for their national reach) as well as in medium-wave (AM radio) locally until the 1980s when FM stations were fully in place. However, as FM transmissions have only an 80km radius, Radio Malaysia Sarawak continues shortwave transmission at 7270 kHz from Kuching, with programmes in Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan and Kenyah.

Radio Malaysia’s international service, Voice of Malaysia, and its international religious service Voice of Islam, still operates on shortwave, broadcasting in English and Tagalog, among other languages.

As shortwave radio has begun fading out in use among international broadcasters, it is likely that Radio Free Sarawak has gained access to a now disused frequency (radio spectrum is governed by the International Telecommunications Union); at one time 7590 kHz was an AFN station in Reflavik; the frequency is also one of those used, I believe, by “Voice of Mesopotamia” operating from Ukraine for two hours, and “Voice of Russia” from Russia for four hours.

Any QSL cards available?



OTHER RADIOS

Radio Free Asia

Burmese (Maymo), Chinese, Khmer, Lao, Uighur, Tibetan, Vietnamese

7480, 9365, 9645. 9690, 15270, 17570 kHz

13625, 13760, 15150, 15665, 17495, 17525, 17615, 17880, 21540 kHz

17515, 17540, 17720, 21570, 21715 kHz

Radio Que Me [Vietnam]

(Vietnamese)

1200-1230 Saturday 11850 kHz

Hmong Lao Radio [Laos]

(Hmong)

1300-1400 Saturday 15105 kHz

BBC WORLD SERVICE

The Beeb comes in loud and clear from the Far Eastern Relay Station in Singapore from 8-10am and 5pm-midnight on the 49m and 31m bands. (6195 kHz, 9740 kHz) as well as 11750 kHz and 15335 kHz at other times.