A well-known actress has been banned from appearing on national television and radio after she compared gossip about one of her relationships to the Prophet Mohammed's wife.

Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) slapped a year-long ban on Rosnah Mat Aris over the comments earlier this year on live talk show "Sensasi" (Sensation).

"After watching the recording of the show, I myself was shocked by what Rosnah Mat Aris said," Bernama quoted Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin as saying.

"What she said was out of the norm of society, especially Muslims," said Zainuddin, who oversees RTM's operations. "Her words were also aired on a live programme (and they) can and have hurt Muslims."

Rosnah's comments sparked outrage from viewers and attracted the attention of Malaysia's Islamic authorities.

The actress has apologised for the incident, which led the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to stop live broadcasts of the show in mainly-Muslim Malaysia.

Relationship with a younger man

The commission said the January 30 programme contravened licencing and content codes, and that the show's broadcaster, private station TV3, had failed to control inappropriate content.

In the show, which features discussions with people in the arts and entertainment industry, Rosnah linked gossip about her relationship with a younger man to the Prophet's marriage to his first wife.

TV3, Malaysia's most popular broadcaster, and a number of other Malaysian media outlets have been pulled up in the past year for content deemed insulting to Islam.

Zainuddin said the ban on Rosnah should be viewed as a warning to Malaysian stars to take care over what they say, especially on live television, Bernama said.

"Even if it is something sensational, it has to be politely sensational," Zainuddin said.