I never meant to mock religion, says BFM host

BFM presenter Aisyah Tajuddin says it was never her intention to mock any religion, let alone her own. – Video screenshot, March 23, 2015.

The presenter of business radio station BFM 89.9, Aisyah Tajuddin, today apologised for her tone and demeanour in a video questioning the enforcement of hudud in Kelantan.

She said she had not intended to insult any religion in the BFM Projek Diolog BFMKupas video, adding that‎ its purpose was to question the PAS-led Kelantan government's priorities.

"I wish to take the opportunity to apologise for both my tone and demeanour in the video. It was never my intention to mock. It was never my intention to insult," said Aisyah in a statement today.

"I realise that many took offence. For that, I am truly sorry. I would never, under any circumstance, insult or condemn any religion, let alone my own."‎

She added that the numerous death and rape threats directed at her, her family and colleagues since the video was published on Thursday had been "incredibly upsetting".

"Feeling this vulnerable about my safety and security is an uncomfortable experience and one that is out of character in the Malaysia I know," said Aisyah.

"On that note, there has also been a tremendous outpouring of love and support from both friends and strangers alike. For this, I am truly grateful."‎

She also expressed regret ‎that the coverage of the incident had distracted the public from the true intention of the video, which was to spur discourse on the socio-economic conditions of the people in Kelantan.‎

Aisyah and several employees of BFM had their statements recorded by police today over the two-minute video‎.

Yesterday, the New Straits Times Online reported that those behind the video were being investigated under Section 298 of the Penal Code for blasphemy.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said that police had received at least five reports after the video was published, adding that the complainants felt their religious beliefs had been mocked.

“We have decided to call up the producers of the show and the presenter because the station had explained that Aisyah was merely reading a prepared script after making an apology for the video.

“The video had also hurt the feelings of (Muslim) followers who felt that their religion had been insulted,” he said in the NST report.

At the same time, the report said Khalid had assured that police were also tracking down those who had threatened Aisyah with rape and murder.

BFM has since removed the video clip, which drew at least 6,000 views as well as hundreds of disparaging comments about Aisyah.

The comments ranged from questioning her faith to calling for her to be burned alive, raped and even shot dead.

Many also called on the police to probe Aisyah and BFM for sedition.

BFM said in a statement on Saturday that Aisyah had not written the script and the views in the video did not reflect her stance on the law.

It said the video on YouTube, which was produced by BFM Media in collaboration with Projek Dialog, was aimed at providing “a satirical commentary” on whether the implementation of hudud should be the Kelantan government’s top priority.

“However, judging by the comments we received on various sites, it is clear that some of our audience understood us to be questioning the desirability of hudud. In fact, we had no such intention,” BFM said in a statement.

“We merely asked that our audience should consider legitimate questions around its implementation. We wish to apologise if any offence arose. We have taken the decision to take down the video in view of the offence it might have caused.”

Yesterday, Aisyah’s father, professor Dr Mohamad Tajuddin Mohamad Rasdi, denied that his daughter had committed any crime as she had merely been questioning the implementation of PAS’s hudud law in Kelantan.

He said she was not questioning God’s law, but laws that were written by PAS and would be enforced by the Islamist party.

- TMI