DJs Suspended Amid Internal Investigation
Three radio announcers from Era FM’s breakfast show, 3 Pagi Era, have been suspended following backlash over a video in which they mocked the Hindu kavadi dance, a sacred ritual performed during Thaipusam.
Astro Audio, the parent company of Era FM, as well as the radio company itself issued official apologies acknowledging that the video was inappropriate and expressing regret for the offense caused.
The company stated that Nabil Ahmad, Azad Jazmin, and Radin Amir Affendi have been taken off air while an internal investigation is conducted.
The company also reassured the public that it is committed to maintaining media content that respects cultural and religious sensitivities and will review its content screening processes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
DJs Criticized for Insensitive Video
The clip, which was shared on the station’s social media platforms before being taken down, showed the DJ (Azad Jasmin or ‘Pak Azad’), imitating the kavadi dance while others chanted “Vel, Vel” and laughing.
Many in the Hindu community and beyond condemned the video as offensive and disrespectful.
The phrase “Vel, Vel” is a devotional chant used during Thaipusam to honour Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war. It refers to the sacred spear (Vel) given to Murugan by Goddess Parvati to defeat evil forces.
Public Reaction and Calls for Apology
The video quickly sparked outrage among Malaysians, particularly within the Indian community, who saw it as a blatant mockery of their religious traditions.
Many social media users demanded an apology from the radio station and its hosts, calling for stricter oversight on media content.
Social media influencer @/muttoncurry.com also condemned the video, questioning if there were no standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place when uploading content.
In a TikTok post, he expressed his disgust at the DJs’ actions, shedding light on the importance of media responsibility in respecting religious and cultural sensitivities.
Public frustration was evident across social media, with many criticizing the DJ and Era FM.
One user expressed disappointment, stating they “never expected this from Pak Azad.”
Another recalled previous controversies involving the DJ, mentioning, “This Pak Azad has always been problematic; I still remember when he was criticised for wearing a Sikh turban while holding a cigarette.”
Some called for immediate accountability, with one user urging them to apologize.
Others demanded authorities step in, “No matter what race, DO NOT mock another’s culture. I hope the police (PDRM) and Era FM take strict action.”
Meanwhile, some Malaysians distanced themselves from the incident, with one user apologising on behalf of the DJs, hoping there will be no such behaviors in the future.
Another echoed the need for mutual respect, stating simply, “Please respect all religions.”
MIC Calls for Government Action
Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) deputy president and Tapah MP M. Saravanan strongly criticised the DJs, stating,
“This is not just stupidity – it’s a blatant insult to the faith and traditions of Hindus in Malaysia.”
He called on the government to take action against the station, warning that allowing such incidents to go unpunished could set a dangerous precedent.
DJs Issue Apology
Following the backlash, 3 Pagi Era hosts Nabil Ahmad, Azad Jazmin, and Radin Amir Affendi released an apology via the station’s social media platforms.
In the video, Nabil acknowledged that their actions had offended many, saying,
“We would like to apologise to all parties in relation to our video, which was uploaded on Era’s social media recently.”
His co-host, Radin, added that they would ensure such incidents do not happen again, while Azad expressed their openness to receiving criticism and learning from the mistake.
“Once again, we deeply apologise for our mistake, which we did unknowingly,” he said.
MCMC to Investigate Era FM
In response to the controversy, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil confirmed that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has been instructed to conduct a detailed investigation.
The probe will involve summoning Astro and Era FM’s management to provide a full explanation of the incident.
“This is to ensure that appropriate action can be taken based on existing regulations and laws,” Fahmi said in a statement.
Watch the videos here:
@muttoncurry.com Wow sooo funny la you @ERA 😂😂😂. #lawakbodoh #fyp
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