The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said BFM is a business radio station, which is why it has no business airing opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's interview on politics.

"MCMC had declined BFM 's request to broadcast its political interview with Anwar recently, as BFM 's licence stipulates that the station is to broadcast in the Klang Valley area as a business radio institution," MCMC senior director of strategic communications Sheikh Raffie Abd Rahman told Malaysiakini .

"MCMC, as the industry regulator, must ensure that the licencees remain true to their business plans."

Sheikh Raffie explained that radio stations are licensed thematically based on the genre they apply for - that is for news, women, tourism or business.

"MCMC is responsible to ensure that all of its licencees do not breach their licence conditions based on the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998," he added.

It was reported on Wednesday that the order not to air the interview with the PKR de facto chief on the coming Kajang by-election came from the MCMC.

According to a source, as the station enters its sixth year of operations, it is required to submit a weekly report of its proposed contents for the week ahead to be filtered by the MCMC.

"This requirement had been implemented since the Sarawak state elections (in 2011). Prior to that, there was no problem.

"When we submitted the list last week, the MCMC asked that Anwar's interview be removed for the reasons given above.

"This does not mean we agree with what the authorities say," said the source on condition of anonymity.

BFM is reputed to be Malaysia's only independent radio station, focusing on business news and current affairs. The station covers the Klang Valley, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Malacca.

The ban decision was also tweeted by one of its presenters Umapagan Ampikaipaka, who was also one of Anwar's interviewers.

Not the first time

Although barred from being aired, the interview is still available for download on the station's website .

This is not the first time for the station to be hit by such a ban.

Its Anwar (right) interview last year suffered the same fate but that, too, exists in its podcast.

It landed itself in the soup for airing an interview with American religious scholar Reza Aslan on the 'Allah' controversy after the Court of Appeal's decision last October.

The station has built a reputation for its more liberal and bold approach towards business and current affairs reporting, setting it apart from Malaysia's 'big three' private radio groups - Media Prima Radio Networks, Star Publications (M) Bhd and AMP Radio Networks.

The latest ban comes just as the Reporters Without Borders' (RSF) 2014 World Press Freedom Index report was released on the same day, with Malaysia dropping two notches to the 147th spot, its lowest standing in the index to date and even lower than Myanmar.