KUALA LUMPUR: The licence of Maestra Broadcast Sdn Bhd, the operator of Era FM, will not be suspended following a recent controversy involving three of its DJs.
However, the company has been fined RM250,000.
The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) stated it received an appeal from the company following a notice of intent for suspension, issued on March 7.
"After reviewing the arguments made in the appeal, we have decided not to suspend the licence of Maestra Broadcast Sdn Bhd.
"In making the decision, we also considered follow-up actions taken by the company, the apologies issued by those involved, as well as effects on radio stations Melody and Mix FM, which operate under the same licence," the MCMC said in a statement on Tuesday (March 11).
The company was issued a RM250,000 compound under Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998 (after amendments) for uploading offensive content on Era FM's official TikTok account.
"The compound was issued with the consent of the Attorney General's Chambers.
"We view any action that could cause tension between religions or disrupt societal harmony seriously.
"All operators and platform users must be responsible for preserving racial and religious harmony in Malaysia and abide by national laws," it said.
The MCMC referred the investigation paper to the AGC regarding the video allegedly mocking the Hindu religion.
"The video was uploaded on Era FM's TikTok account.
"We have also called up Astro's top management," it said.
The MCMC recorded statements from those involved.
"A Notice of Intent for the suspension of the licence to manage Era FM radio station has also been handed to the license holder.
"They have 30 days to respond to the notice before any decision is made," it said.
