The government has banned a television advertisement featuring Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt, saying it was an insult to Asian looks, local media reported today.

Deputy Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin said the use of Western faces in advertisements could create an inferiority complex among Asians, the official Bernama news agency reported.

"Why do we need to use their faces in our advertisements? Are our own people not handsome?" he asked.

"We barred the advertisement as it appeared as a humiliation against Asians," he said.

The banned ad showed Pitt promoting Toyota cars. AFP