Dolla’s music video has been removed after receiving backlash, including a reprimand by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Na’im Mokhtar, for allegedly being too sexy.
The girl group’s music video for their song “Question” was set in a retro-style diner cafe and showed members Sabronzo (Wan Sabrina Wan Rusli), Tabby (Tabitha Ariel Lam), and Angel (Angelina Chai), confronting a boyfriend who was cheating on all three of them.
In the video, the group were primarily dressed in halter neck tops with corset bodices paired with miniskirts, while in one scene, they wore outfits with bare shoulders and exposed midriffs.
The video released on Nov 6 courted flak from conservatives on social media over their revealing attire. They also targeted Sabronzo (above, right) for dressing in such a manner despite being Muslim.
Mulling syariah charges
When met by the press yesterday, Na’im described the group’s clothing as inappropriate and disrespectful to cultural and religious sensitivities and suggested that he would consider filing syariah offence charges against its Muslim member.
“From the perspective of taking legal action, we shall see if they are in breach of any regulations and syariah law enactments… so syariah legal action is within our consideration,” he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian yesterday.
Na’im added that he would urge the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and the Federal Territories Mufti’s Office to re-evaluate clothing guidelines for Muslim celebrities.
He reminded that Muslim celebrities in the country should be aware of their responsibilities as public figures, especially since they are idolised by many, including the youth.
“I hope that these celebrities can set a good example, adhere to the guidelines set for Muslims, and be respectful of our customs in this part of the world,” he added.
Universal Music apologises
This feedback appeared to be the final nail in the coffin for the music video.
Last night, Universal Music Malaysia said it had taken down the video and apologised for its oversight on cultural sensitivities.
Its managing director, Kim Lim, said the decision to remove the video was made based on community feedback, after they re-evaluated its production content.
"As a recording company operating in a diverse ecosystem like Malaysia, we always respect cultural values, religious sensitivities, and the views of our fans.
"We take all feedback seriously and accept full responsibility for any errors that may have occurred. We believe creativity and artistic expression should go hand-in-hand with sensitivity to local norms.
"The decision to take down the music video is a reasonable step to maintain harmony and respect among all parties," she said in a statement yesterday.
The company further stressed its commitment to ensuring that all future projects would undergo a more rigorous review process, including internal discussions and professional consultations, to prevent similar issues from recurring. - Mkini
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