PETALING JAYA: Former education minister Dr Maszlee Malik (pic) has apologised after being panned on social media for using inappropriate words when playing the role of an evil prime minister in the drama series, Kudeta.
The former Simpang Renggam MP said his bad choice of words has caused distress to the public, especially women.
However, he still called upon Malaysians to watch Kudeta as there were many lessons to be learned, if they could see past the controversial five-second scene during which he used a crude description about a woman’s physical attractiveness.
“I, Dr Maszlee bin Malik, would like to publicly apologise to everyone, especially to women wherever you are.
“I am aware of the effectiveness of films and dramas in conveying a good message in society. However, (this is) only if it does not offend sensitivities or culture.
“I am also extremely grateful to all parties who have given me reprimands, reminders and advice, whether personally or publicly,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Maszlee, a former political science lecturer at a public university, also said he hoped Astro would censor the scene to respect the sensitivity of many parties.
Astro’s Kudeta, which Maszlee described as the first Malay drama that was a political action-thriller, features him as an imprisoned former prime minister.
He was criticised by the public for the crude language in one of the scenes where he faces off with the sitting prime minister played by Vanidah Imran.
His lines at the end of the scene have been described by some people as misogynistic and an insult to women, especially given his prominence as a renowned figure in education, among others.
