Govt issues stern warning to TV stations over 'sensitive' scenes

 

The Communications and Multimedia Ministry has issued a stern warning to all television company operators not to display any scenes that touch on religious and other sensitivities in the country.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa (above) said the ministry would not hesitate to take action if there were television stations that violated the guidelines set.

“Under the current regulation, the government gives the authority to censor drama content to the television station itself, where they are required to control it themselves.

“If we find that the television station does not follow certain guidelines, especially touching on issues related to religion, culture, customs and so on, then I will review the facility (censorship authority), and we may revoke it,” he told reporters after presenting donations to Form Six students in the Ketereh parliamentary constituency in conjunction with the Back To School programme in Kota Bharu today.

He was asked to comment on a video uploaded by a local actor on his Instagram account which featured hot scenes believed to be from a drama that had yet to be aired.

Annuar said the facilities provided on a trust basis by the government under the Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) should not be taken lightly by television companies.

“For me, scenes that are not in line with the culture of the Malays and Muslims, and that offend the Malays and Muslims should not even reach a stage where the ministry needs to step in and reprimand, because we need to understand for ourselves, the boundaries of scenes that are inappropriate,” he said.

Commenting further, Annuar said he had asked the parties involved in the drama to provide a written explanation, and if it was not deemed satisfactory, the drama would not be allowed to be aired.

After a video clip of the scenes went viral, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Idris Ahmad through his Facebook had also informed that he would be contacting the parties involved to resolve the matter.

Meanwhile, TV3 in a media statement yesterday said that the scenes shown in the clip were not suitable to be broadcast and were neither discussed nor approved by the television station.

- Bernama