Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad ( TV3 ) apologised and retracted a Hari Raya advertisement yesterday after a chorus of objections was expressed by a number of Muslim groups.

NONE Speaking to Utusan Malaysia , group chief executive officer of Television Networks Media Prima Berhad, Farid Ridzuan said the television station apologises to the public for having unintentionally caused offence.

“As the person responsible for approving the advertisement, it did not cross my mind to offend the sensitivities of any quarter.

"On the contrary, I was only seeking (to bring out) the creativity of the (advertisement’s) director,” said Farid.

TV3 also announced in its 8pm news programme last night that the advertisement had been taken off the air.

References to other religions?

In the minute-long commercial, an elderly skullcap-wearing ‘ Pak Haji ’ is shown to have invited several children into his magical ' beca ' (trishaw) for a wondrous ride through the skies.

Entitled ‘ Sinari Lebaran ’ (The light of Aidifiltri), the advertisement was said to have cost RM200,000 for three-weeks’ work in Negri Sembilan and Selangor, including the use of computer-generated imagery.

It elicited a barrage of comments and protestations, however, over the resemblance of Pak Haji and his trishaw to the yearly sleigh ride of the Christian Saint Nicholas - or Santa Clause as he is more popularly called - to bring presents to children around the world.

The veneration and ascription of divine powers to ‘saints’ is generally categorised in Islam as polytheism, which is regarded as the gravest sin a Muslim can commit.

Critics of the advertisement have also questioned why it featured prominently towards the end the blossoming of lotus flowers - which are closely associated with Hinduism and Buddhism.

Ad does not reflect 1Malaysia

Among those who objected to the advertisement, Seputeh Umno Youth chief Mohd Razlan Muhammad Rafii said he was concerned that Muslim children would wrongly equate Aidilfitri with Christmas.

“ TV3 should be more responsible in ensuring that in religious matters we do not imitate others,” Razlan wrote in a letter to Utusan .

“Let us not commit the mistakes of the past in failing to uphold the culture and sensitivities of all races and religions in Malaysia,” he added.

In another letter, one Sardini Tuman said “the spirit of 1Malaysia does not mean we should mix matters that touch upon religious sensitivities.”

“Remember, Aidilfitri celebrations is not a Malay custom but a matter of religious worship. Its sanctity should be upheld,” he added.

In a statement, the head of UTM’s Muslim Students’ Association Mohd Khairul Abdullah Halim said people should not be “so partial to the 1Malaysia concept as to compromise the integrity of religion in order to fulfill the demands of 1Malaysia.”

“Be moderate in expressing one’s support (for the 1Malaysia concept),” said Khairul.

'I was portraying dreams and happiness'

PAS Youth, meanwhile, said it will be submitting a memorandum on what it described was TV3 's “insult against Islam” to the management of TV3 at its headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

mahfuz omar pas ceramah in penanti 270509 In the party's mouthpiece Harakahdaily , PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar ( left ) blamed Umno, saying its ministers have been so focused on non-BN-owned media that they had failed to monitor its own.

"As we know, Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad (TV3) and Television Networks Media Prima Berhad are linked with Umno, so maybe (Information Communication and Culture Minister) Rais Yatim has not been willing to monitor its contents," said the Pokok Sena MP.

Utusan , meanwhile, quoted the creative director of the advertisement, Douglas Khoo Hong Seng, as saying he will abide by TV3 's decision on the issue.

According to the Utusan report, Khoo said he was merely trying to depict the happiness of the children in experiencing the ‘miraculous’ trip through the skies in the trishaw.

“It had not occurred to me that I had offended Muslims.

“I was only trying to portray the dreams and happiness of children with the ‘miracle’ trishaw, and I thought it was nice and appropriate.

“I really regret what has happened and apologise to the Muslim society for any offence, which was not intended,” said Khoo.

He also said the comments and views of various quarters will serve to guide him in future productions.