The Malaysian authorities banned the broadcast of the song "Despacito" by Puerto Rican Luis Fonsi on public radio and television, after Islamist sectors denounced that its lyrics are obscene, local press reports.
Minister of Telecommunications, Salleh Said Keruak, last night announced the decision following a meeting with the evaluation panel of state-owned Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), which agreed to withdraw the permit.
"RTM will cease to broadcast this song on all its radio and television stations with immediate effect," said Salleh according to The Star newspaper.
The measure was taken hours after the Islamist party Angkatan Wanita Amanah Nasional (Awan) criticized the explicit sexual content of the song and asked that it be banned from broadcasting in the media.
"Despacito" is the most played song of the history through the platforms of "streaming" (online broadcast) and next to the remix of the Canadian Justin Bieber reached 4,600 millions of reproductions, according to the Universal label.
It is not the first time that the Malaysian authorities prohibit a movie or show appealing to public morality.
In March, the Commission of Censorship of Films vetoed the premiere of the last adaptation of "The Beauty and the Beast" by the appearance of a homosexual character, although days later rectified and allowed its projection.
In 2014, the same Commission prevented Darren Aronofsky's screening of "Noah" as the tape was against Islam.
Written by Edgardo Cedeño