KUALA LUMPUR – The government cannot take down the controversial Hari Raya music video by cosmetics entrepreneur Datuk Seri Aliff Syukri Kamarzaman until investigations have confirmed that an offence had taken place, Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said today.
Annuar said neither the ministry or the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) have the power to remove the video from the internet as it is up to the court to decide on whether an offence has been committed.
“The ministry can only carry out the court’s orders. If the ministry can block (videos like these), I have many other clips that I would like to remove,” he told reporters at an iftar event with the media hosted by his ministry at a hotel here.
Annuar said several people have already been summoned by MCMC to assist with ongoing investigations into the video, following reports lodged by the Prime Minister’s Department and the Islamic Development Department.
The video clip, depicting a group of male dancers in make-up who displayed effeminate behaviour, has courted controversy as it was said to be unsuitable for public consumption, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.
Annuar said the MCMC is investigating the case under Section 233 of the Multimedia and Communications Act, which covers content or transmissions that are “obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character with the intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person”.
Those found guilty face fines of not more than RM50,000, up to a year in jail, or both.
“We must let the investigation process go on as it (legal action) must be based on the existing laws,” said Annuar, who is also Ketereh MP.
“If there is a complaint and there is no evidence of any offence, we cannot take any measures outside the law.” – The Vibes, April 26, 2022
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