Lilith
09-16-2004, 08:25 AM
(submitted by gekkogecko)
Reuters to My
Yahoo!
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A radio station that tested the
bounds of Singapore's censorship laws, and lost, has
been fined S$30,000 ($17,500) after its disc jockeys
made sexually suggestive on-air comments about
pornography and women's panties.
One DJ, Sheikh Haikel, was fired and another was
suspended after listeners complained about sexual
vulgarity on their "Morning Madness" show on
state-controlled MediaCorp Radio.
In one program, a student phoned the DJs asking for
advice on how best to approach a girl he liked. Sheikh
told the caller "to ask the girl whether she was
wearing white panties" and what she looked like under
her school uniform.
Several listeners complained, prompting an
investigation by the Media Development Authority, a
state media watchdog which objected to those comments
and others it said "encouraged premarital sex and
promiscuity."
"There was also an extensive discussion about
pornographic movies offered in hotels with the DJ
stating that he thinks about porn 'every time'," the
Media Development Authority (MDA) said in a statement
released to Reuters Thursday.
Authorities also investigated another program where
the DJ "mimicked a pimp trying to solicit a client,
using sexually suggestive words on air," it said.
Tightly controlled Singapore has been slowly easing
rules on censorship as a more affluent, well traveled
and better educated population press for more
freedoms.
A 22-year ban on "Cosmopolitan" -- a U.S. women's
magazine barred in 1982 after the government said it
promoted promiscuity -- would be lifted this month, as
long as it did not promote exploitative sex or display
nudity, the MDA said on Thursday.
The MDA said the radio shows had breached Singapore's
Radio Program Code which says broadcasters should
observe standards of good taste and decency. ($1=1.712
Singapore dollars)
Reuters to My
Yahoo!
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A radio station that tested the
bounds of Singapore's censorship laws, and lost, has
been fined S$30,000 ($17,500) after its disc jockeys
made sexually suggestive on-air comments about
pornography and women's panties.
One DJ, Sheikh Haikel, was fired and another was
suspended after listeners complained about sexual
vulgarity on their "Morning Madness" show on
state-controlled MediaCorp Radio.
In one program, a student phoned the DJs asking for
advice on how best to approach a girl he liked. Sheikh
told the caller "to ask the girl whether she was
wearing white panties" and what she looked like under
her school uniform.
Several listeners complained, prompting an
investigation by the Media Development Authority, a
state media watchdog which objected to those comments
and others it said "encouraged premarital sex and
promiscuity."
"There was also an extensive discussion about
pornographic movies offered in hotels with the DJ
stating that he thinks about porn 'every time'," the
Media Development Authority (MDA) said in a statement
released to Reuters Thursday.
Authorities also investigated another program where
the DJ "mimicked a pimp trying to solicit a client,
using sexually suggestive words on air," it said.
Tightly controlled Singapore has been slowly easing
rules on censorship as a more affluent, well traveled
and better educated population press for more
freedoms.
A 22-year ban on "Cosmopolitan" -- a U.S. women's
magazine barred in 1982 after the government said it
promoted promiscuity -- would be lifted this month, as
long as it did not promote exploitative sex or display
nudity, the MDA said on Thursday.
The MDA said the radio shows had breached Singapore's
Radio Program Code which says broadcasters should
observe standards of good taste and decency. ($1=1.712
Singapore dollars)