Malaysia bans rock singer after topless act: report
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Malaysia's media authority has banned a singer from taking part in live television concerts for three months after he went topless on air during a performance, a report said Saturday.
Malaysian rock singer Faizal Tahir apologised Tuesday for stripping off his shirt to reveal a bare chest with a bright red Superman logo painted on during a concert on local television station 8TV earlier this month.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) also banned 8TV from broadcasting any live or delayed telecast concerts for the same period, according to the Star newspaper.
"The commission found the artist's act was intended without taking into account the sentiments and sensitivities of the viewers and public values," MCMC corporate communications director Muhamad Tahir Muhamad Noor said.
8TV branded Faizal Tahir's stunt "shocking", saying his actions were unacceptable in this conservative Muslim-majority nation.
Going topless, even for males, is a violation of local broadcasting standards, station officials told AFP.
8TV's chief executive officer Ahmad Izham Omar said he was stunned by Faizal's actions and the station would ban him from appearing on the channel for three months until it was certain he would adhere to its guidelines.
