MUMBAI: Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur will be home to Radio24, the country`s first all news and information and radio station, run by the Malaysian National News Agency Bernama.Launched on 3 September 2007, Radio24, based at Bernama`s head office building, will operate 24 hours a day and be available initially in the Klang Valley, but is expected to be expanded nationwide in the future.Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin said that the Bernama-run station would play an important role in providing current news to the public "who crave information".

The station, which transmits from the 15th floor of Wisma Bernama in Jalan Tun Razak, will also give live reports from locations where news breaks, say reports. In order for Radio24 to compete with the existing stations, Zainuddin said the station must ensure that its programmes were of high quality, good in terms of content and presentation, and fulfilled the needs of the discerning listeners who had a wide choice."This represents a very serious challenge to all-news radio stations such as Radio24 as they operate in an environment and country where entertainment is the top choice, especially among the young generation," he said.The minister said the introduction of the Radio24 station was also in line with efforts of the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to improve the delivery system in the country so that the people could benefit from a more efficient, effective and convenient administrative service.Zainuddin said that media exposure on the leaks and cracks that had occurred in newly constructed public buildings were valuable feedback to the authorities.In Asia, Singapore and Indonesia already have their own radio stations offering round-the-clock news.The station currently has 19 personnel comprising producers, assistant producers, programme hosts and reporters, say reports.