Private cable TV operator Astro has postponed the broadcast of a popular television talent show scheduled on the Prophet Mohammed's birthday after criticisms from Islamic scholars.

Astro said it would move its regular Saturday broadcast of the Akademi Fantasia programme, which falls this week on the Prophet's birthday, to Sunday instead.

"In view of the Prophet Mohammed's birthday celebration this coming Saturday ... the live telecast of Akademi Fantasia 5 week 3 concert will be moved to Sunday," Astro said in a statement released today.

Astro said it would instead air an episode of the programme on Saturday with a special focus on the Prophet Mohammed's birthday.

Akademi Fantasia, which has legions of loyal fans, is a spin-off from a Mexican talent show and features contestants performing in a weekly Saturday concert broadcast live.

U-turn by Astro

The network manager for Astro Ria, the channel which broadcasts the programme, had last week refused to re-schedule the show.

However, influential Islamic scholars this week reportedly questioned the programme's worth and said it was disrespectful to air the show on the Prophet's birthday.

Their criticism followed a year-long ban imposed by state radio and television on a well-known Malaysian actress earlier this month after she compared gossip about one of her relationships to the Prophet Mohammed's wife.

Her comments sparked outrage from viewers and attracted the attention of the Islamic authorities.

A number of media outlets in the Muslim majority country have also been punished in the past year for content deemed insulting to Islam.