Telegrams Might Stop STOP Opinions Sought STOP

KUALA LUMPUR (AP)--The telegram service, introduced in Malaysia nearly 130 years ago during British rule, faces the possibility of being scrapped amid falling demand and revenue.

The country's telecommunications regulatory body, in a "discussion paper" released this week, seeks the views of Malaysians on whether the telegram service - as well as telex service - is still needed alongside alternatives like e-mail and fax.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission said it will use the response to help decide whether the two services should stop, or continue but with higher charges.

"The commission is particularly concerned in determining whether maintaining and sustaining the operation of these services is both viable and possible in the long term," it said.

Malaysia is not legally obliged to provide the telegram service, the commission said, adding that it had been discontinued in other places such as Singapore and Hong Kong.

Malaysia, which has a population of 26 million people, currently handles about 758,000 telegrams a year.

Even with a tariff revision, demand for telegrams will gradually decline due to competitive alternatives, resulting in the closure of the service, the commission said.

It said demand for the telex service was declining at an even more alarming rate. There are now only 456 customers in the country, subscribing to a total of 156 telex circuits.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires"

Posted to the site on 27th August 2005