KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 — Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin has urged the Health Ministry and the police’s commercial crimes division to monitor advertisements for some beauty and health products that he said preyed on religious sentiments.
Writing in his blog, the former information minister said he did not allow such advertisements to appear on TV and radio during his time, regardless of approvals by other agencies.
“I feel responsible in getting the attention of the Health Ministry to give serious attention to this issue, so there would not be wanton approval to show these ads on radio on TV, which easily deceive the public especially by using religious elements.
“When I was information minister, I did not allow certain ads to be broadcast even when approved by the Health Ministry,” Zainuddin wrote.
Zainuddin said such advertisements include Arabic brands and business owners who claim to be “ustaz and ustazah”, in reference to Islamic religious teachers, to convince Malay consumers.
In addition, he said there were also radio and TV hosts who become spokesmen for such products, ostensibly increasing their credibility.
He said some TV stations even broadcast advertisements for products that have been called into questioned and faced action from authorities.
“Actually, if buyers were monitored, investigated and researched, then many would admit that they have been swindled, especially because of religious sentiments,” Zainuddin claimed.
