Malaysian station Ai FM is to keep airing news in Chinese dialects after a u-turn by Radio Televisyen Malaysia’s (RTM) management.

Bulletins in Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka and Teochew were set to be dropped on January 1 2014 due to low audience figures.

But a social media campaign along with political pressure seems to have forced management at the public broadcaster to reverse their decision.

The broadcasts – 10 minutes of news each dialect at 8pm each night – have been a feature of the the station since the 1940s.

The decision was welcomed by the Malaysian Chinese Association.

Deputy party president Dr Wee Ka Siong told a news conference that although “the demand for news in Chinese dialects is low, the news reading needs to continue so we can promote the dialects in Chinese culture, especially to the youths”.

“Some Chinese, especially senior citizens, still rely on the radio news in Chinese dialects as their source of information. In that respect, Ai FM is duty-bound to dissemminate news to everyone who tunes in,” reported The Star newspaper.