PUTRAJAYA, MALAYSIA: The first Islamic television channel is set to take off in the middle of next year.

Minister in Prime Minister's Department Datuk Jamil Khir Baharom hoped it would be an alternative channel to the different races in the country.

"This is in line with the government's aspiration to set up a channel suitable for the entire family, irrespective of race and religion.

"We want television to be a source of information and entertainment that is compatible with the country's multiculturalism," he said, adding that the concept of the shows to be aired over the channel would be announced shortly.

He said the government had allocated RM10 million (S$ 4.1million) to fund Television Alhijrah