Incidents involving nudity grab headlines in Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: Despite social norms that lean towards the conservative, Malaysia has had its fair share of controversies involving public nudity.

Here are five incidents involving nudity in Malaysia that have cropped up in recent times.

Penang Nude Sports Games

A group of people decided to have some games on a beach in Penang, dressed in nothing more than body paint that did nothing to cover their modesty.

A video of the nudists participating in the so-called 'Penang Nude Sports Games' was uploaded to a video-sharing website, which subsequently went viral.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had said that the state government did not approve of the 'nudist activity' and necessary action would be taken on the 18 people involved.

Naked and Afraid in Perak

Early this year, Discovery Channel shot a reality show titled "Naked and Afraid" in Perak.

The programme, which was believed to have been shot in the Royal Belum Forest, was about a couple who meet each other for the first time and spend the next 21 days together hunting for food and finding shelter in the forest.

The programme, which was believed to have been shot in the Royal Belum Forest

True to the title, they were not clothed during filming.

The show was meant for American viewers only.

Topless poolside party

A club in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur was temporarily shut down following news that they were to host a topless pool party in April this year.

City Mayor Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib said that the club did not have the license to conduct such a party.

Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor later ordered the club to be shut down for a week, pending the explanation from the club owners.

He also said if the explanation given by the club was not satisfactory, then the club would be shut down permanently.

A source from the club, however, said that the poster of the party that was circulated was merely a "draft", and the event never took place.

Expedition Robinson, Mersing

In 2009, close to 22 people ran naked on the Mersing beach for a television programme.

The reality show, Expedition Robinson, which was shot off the coast of Mersing, Johor is the Danish version of the US-based show, Survivor.

The programme, which was broadcast on Denmark Network TV3, was criticised as many felt forcing the contestants to strip naked was a terrible thing to do.

The producers later apologised to the people of Denmark as well as the Malaysian Government and assured that the show would never be aired here.

Half-naked pool party

In Johor, women who were half-naked were offered free entrance and drinks to a party, scheduled to be held in April this year.

State Housing and Local Government executive councillor Abd Latiff Bandi said details of the event was publicised on social media and went against the law as well as the cultural norms of Malaysia.

An entertainment centre in Bukit Indah, which was to host the event, was threatened with the revocation of their license if they proceeded with the party as it did not have a permit.