Public broadcaster Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) has suspended the airing of popular Chinese sitcom ‘88 Kopitiam', featuring  an actor who was part of the Teresa Kok Chinese New Year parody video.

In a statement today, its director-general of broadcasting Norhyati Ismail said that the sitcom has been suspended pending investigations.

“RTM is investigating if any of our programmes is linked to actors who had tainted the name or image of the country.

“RTM will not hesitate to take stern action against those involved in productions of that nature,” she said.

She added that RTM will speak to the producer of the sitcom to ascertain if the '88 Kopitiam' actor had in fact performed in the Kok ( right ) video.

She said that this is to ensure “no party is victimised or abused by irresponsible quarters”.

She was responding to claims that the sitcom, aired on TV2, is linked to Kok's video.

'88 Kopitiam' is broadcast over TV2 on Monday nights. The episodes set in a coffeeshop discuss current affairs, especially those concerning the Chinese community.

Scores of police reports have been lodged against a Chinese New Year greeting video produced by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.

In the parody, Kok plays a talkshow host who interviews three experts on what to expect in the Year of the Horse.

They are - tourism expert Ms Yan Yan, luxury item lover Mrs Jit and Brother Wai, who is easily reduced to tears – who among others encourage the audience to head to Sabah to enjoy pirate and kidnapping shows, as well as purchase expensive handbags to shield themselves against machete attacks by robbers.

Although accused of poking fun at MCA leaders Ng Yen Yen and Wee Ka Siong, and the prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor, Kok stresses that the parody does not mention names.

The video also led a group of Muslim NGOs to offer a reward of RM500 for those who can make a video recording of themselves slapping Kok. She has lodged a police report on the matter.

‘All professional actors’

Expressing regret, Kok condemned the act which “victimises professional actors”.

“They were all hired actors and not party members. Why should professional actors be penalised? I am responsible for the political satire video,” she said when contacted.

She, however, cannot confirm if any of the three actors are part of the ‘88 Kopitiam’ cast.

She added that the issue has been “blown out of proportion” and remarks by cabinet ministers on the matter have encouraged government agencies to take similarly disproportionate actions.

Separately, lawyer Sankara Nair who is representing all three actors, said the suspension smells of political interference.

“It’s a politically-mooted action, as there is no court that will find the show offending,” he said when contacted.

He, however, declined to identify the actors, also not named in Kok’s video.

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