MIC demands strong govt action against Era FM for insulting Hinduism

Summary

• A video clip has gone viral, showing several Era FM staff members allegedly mocking the Thaipusam kavadi ritual.

• MIC deputy president M Saravanan urges the government to take strong action against those involved.

• CIJ calls for ethical guidelines and sensitisation training to prevent racism and bigotry in the media.

MIC today urged the government to take action against Astro’s radio station Era FM after several staff members allegedly mocked the Thaipusam kavadi ritual.

The incident was captured in a TikTok video that was supposedly uploaded onto the radio station's account.

The original clip is no longer available, but copies of it have since gone viral.

In the video, an Era FM host known as Pak Azad was seen dancing to a "vel vel" chant by several other staff before he burst into laughter.

The chant "vel vel" invokes the Hindu deity Lord Muruga and is often chanted during Thaipusam when a person is taking the kavadi.

‘Brainless insult’

MIC deputy president M Saravanan branded the video "brainless" and called for Era FM to issue a public apology.

"This is not just stupidity - it is a blatant insult to the faith and traditions of Hindus in Malaysia. Such a disgusting display of ignorance and disrespect has no place in our society.

"Era FM, as a media organisation, should know better than to allow this kind of offensive nonsense.

"Their staff have proven themselves to be utterly unfit to work in the media industry if they lack even the most basic understanding of religious and cultural sensitivities.

“This is not humour but an act of mockery that deeply offends the Hindu community," he said in a statement today.

Commenting further, the Tapah MP said such action insulting a religion is also a threat to national unity and can set a dangerous precedent.

He stressed that the individuals involved must be held responsible and the government must act against the radio station.

"I demand that the government take immediate and firm action against Era FM for this outrageous behaviour.

"At the very least, ERA FM must issue a public apology to the Hindu community, and the individuals responsible must face the consequences."

Era FM hosts Nabil Ahmad, Azad Jasmin, and Radin Amir Affendy have since apologised for their antics, while the broadcaster said it has suspended the announcers pending an investigation. Era FM also pledged to strengthen its content review processes.

Probe root, systemic cause

The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) said the investigation must probe the root and systemic cause of the announcer’s actions.

It also called for further ethical guidelines and sensitisation training for media practitioners and stronger measures to encourage accountability.

“Racism and bigotry should not be tolerated in a multiethnic and multi-religious country such as Malaysia.

“We encourage these measures to uphold the media’s role in society as the fourth estate of democracy and prevent all forms of discriminatory practices that perpetuate racism, bigotry and xenophobia,” CIJ executive director Wathshlah Naidu said in a statement.

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