RTM SLAPS BAN ON ‘DESPACITOʼ

Panel withdraws approval to air song

RADIO Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) will cease broadcasting the global hit song, Despacito, on all its radio and television stations with immediate effect.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak said the RTM evaluation panel had decided to withdraw the approval to play the song after a re-evaluation.

“As such, RTM is ceasing the broadcast of the song at its radio and TV stations with immediate effect,” he said after attending a Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house of the ministry here yesterday.

Earlier, Parti Amanah Negara women’s wing called for an immediate ban of the song, over its allegedly sexually-explicit content.

The wing’s Arts and Culture Bureau chairman Atriza Umar said the party viewed the matter seriously as Malaysian youth had been singing the song without understanding the meaning behind the lyrics.

“Local radio channels, including Malay channels, have been playing the song. We would like to call for the broadcast of this song, and also other songs that contain lewd meanings and which are against eastern and Islamic cultures, to be stopped immediately,” she said yesterday.

Atriza expressed disappointment over the matter, adding that the ministry in charge of screening content should take appropriate action.

“The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission must take firm and immediate action over this issue, which could damage society’s morals.”

Despacito, the wildly popular hit by Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi and Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee, and featuring Justin Bieber, has played 4.6 billion times on streaming services, according to BBC.