Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today conceded that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Comission's (MCMC) decision to disallow the 'Undilah' public service announcement (PSA) on television has been very damaging to the ruling coalition.

khairy jamaluddin kj interview 190310"MCMC's confused reaction with regards to Undilah is very damaging to us. I think we should just let it go."

Khairy was responding to a question on Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Communication and Information Rais Yatim's statement that the video was not approved because it "offended certain segments of society".

While Khairy did not respond directly to the minister's statement, he fingered the MCMC for its reaction which ran contrary to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's statement.

"This is very unnecessary... the prime minister yesterday said there is no ban after the Umno supreme council meeting. So it is very unclear what the situation is," he said after attending today's National MCA Youth General Assembly in his capacity as BN Youth chief.

Echoing this, MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong described the ban of the video produced by musician Pete Teo as "uncalled for".

"I don't see any problems, even my central committee members think it (the video) is okay... I do not think this is something that warrants censorship from MCMC.

Video contains ‘subliminal messages'

Wee, who is also deputy education minister and is featured in the video, added that those responsible should not be "hypersensitive".

Wee Ka Siong in undilah video"As one of the actors in 'Undilah', I was only singing, I didn't even say a word.

"This is just to promote and encourage youngsters to vote. It's just a simple message, don't use the mindset of the 1950s to judge the younger generation."

Rais had on Thursday said that on top of being offensive to some, the PSA video contained "subliminal messages aimed at influencing the audience".

Video producer Teo has since given up on attempts to have it aired on national television, arguing that minister's statement meant that "the writing was already on the wall".

The four-and-a-half minute video, a volunteer effort by some 160 individuals, features politicians from both the government and opposition as well as prominent artists encouraging citizens to register as voters and to vote.