An arts presenter of a theatre has claimed that a video advertisement to promote a musical comedy featuring performers in nun costumes has been banned by local authorities in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

Diong Chae Lian, co-founder of Gardner & Wife Theatre, said that she and her husband, Richard Harding Gardner, were set to place a video advertisement on digital signage boards along Jalan Maarof and Gurney Drive.

In a Facebook post yesterday, Diong said the 20-second advertisement was to promote the company’s upcoming musical, 'Nunsense'.

"But (we) have now been informed that DBKL and MPPP (Penang Municipal Council) won't approve our video […] because (according to the signage company) 'it involves sensitivity and political issue... plus now is Ramadan month' (sic)," said Diong, who is also PJ Live Arts executive director.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) licensing and petty traders management department director, Ibrahim Yusoff, however said that he has yet to receive an application for the video advertisement to be put up.

“I don't think it's in my records. I don’t know about this, I only came to know about it when you called me,” he told Malaysiakini.

He, however, admitted that as director of DBKL’s licensing department, he was in control of the visuals to be used.

“If they are sensitive in nature, I will ask them to change the images,” he said.

Ibrahim added that Diong could contact his department for further clarification on the matter.

When first told that the video consisted of performers wearing nun costumes, Ibrahim instead said his department would not give permission for sexy images to be put up.

“We want things which are decent and those that do not give rise to religious sensitivities,” he said.

Asked whether nun costumes would be a disturbance in a Muslim-majority country, Ibrahim admitted as such.

“Yes, that’s true. We won’t allow anything that disrupts public order,” he added.

Malaysiakini has contacted Diong and is awaiting her response on the matter.

Meanwhile, Penang Island City Council (MPPP) secretary Ang Aing Thye said the council did not get any application from Diong on the matter.

"The city council did not receive any formal application from the organiser (Diong) over the video presentation," said Ang.