Earlier this month, local radio station ERA FM faced heavy backlash after three of its announcers were filmed mocking the sacred Thaipusam kavadi ritual. Although the video was deleted, the damage had already been done, and both the announcers and the company issued an official apology for the offensive content.
Malaysians were not as forgiving, and many reported the incident to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). It was previously reported that a notice of intent to suspend the radio station operator’s licence had been issued. Here’s an update on the case:
Following the offensive video posted on ERA FM’s social media pages, and apart from the aforementioned notice, MCMC also summoned Astro’s top management to assist with the investigation. After the news broke, netizens hoped that the radio station’s operator’s license would be suspended and that the announcers would lose their jobs. However, it has now been confirmed that ERA FM will only be fined and will remain operational.
In an official statement released yesterday (Tuesday, 11th March), MCMC said that the licence of Maestra Broadcast Sdn Bhd, operator of the radio station ERA FM, will not be suspended. “After examining the arguments in the appeal, a decision has been made not to suspend [their] licence. The decision was made after considering several factors including the follow-up actions implemented by the company, the apology from the parties involved, as well as the impact of the suspension on the Melody and Mix FM radio stations, which operate under the same licence,” the statement reads.
Instead, ERA FM will be fined a total of RM250,000 for the insensitive social media post, which is an offence under section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. MCMC ended the statement with a stern reminder to all platform operators, as well as social media users, not to disrupt the racial and religious harmony in Malaysia and to comply with the laws of the country.
Shortly after the statement was issued, netizens expressed disappointment with MCMC’s decision, but for entirely different reasons. On one hand, many felt that Era FM and its announcers should face much heavier consequences for their actions, while on the other hand, netizens believed that the fine was unfair, given that comedian Harith Iskander was fined RM10,000 for his offensive religious jokes.
With all that being said, the radio announcers are still suspended indefinitely and their future at the radio station remains unknown for now. What do you think of MCMC’s decision? Too harsh or not harsh enough?
Sources: MalaysiaKini, AstroAwani, Kosmo, Facebook
