Monday October 15, 2012

MBAS: Models must be decently attired or billboards won’t be approved

By KIATISAK CHUA
kiatisak@thestar.com.my

ALOR SETAR: Advertisers have been told to make sure all models, Muslims or not, featured on billboard promotions are fully covered or these will be rejected by the Alor Setar City Council (MBAS).

A council officer said both male and female models must be fully covered, even for sports advertisements.

“The non-Muslim female models must make sure that they do not put on pakaian yang menjolokkan mata (revealing clothes),” she said.

“They must be dressed in T-shirts with sleeves and long pants that cover their legs.”

She said male models were also not encouraged to be in sleeveless tops or short pants.

“Otherwise, we will not approve these billboard advertisements,” she said, adding that the directive was from her superiors.

Phileas Wong, director of Pristine Creation, an advertising company operating in the northern region, said this “backward move” would scare off investors.

“It will make Malaysia lose its competitive edge economically,” he added.

The council came under fire for taking a cue from Kelantan by requiring even non-Muslim models to be “decently attired” on billboards.

A newspaper quoted mayor Datuk Mat Noh Ahmad as saying those who flouted the ruling would be fined RM300 and have their billboards removed.

However, the very next day, the council was reported to have denied coming up with the ruling.

Mat Noh said he merely advised the advertisers that the “attire worn by the models must not be revealing”.

News

Monday October 15, 2012

MBAS: Models must be decently attired or billboards won’t be approved

By KIATISAK CHUA kiatisak@thestar.com.my

By KIATISAK CHUA
kiatisak@thestar.com.my