KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 (Bernama) – The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has issued a warning to broadcasting company Astro about promotional products which allegedly ridicule people's skin colour and face.

In response to the Gegar Vaganza 5 Concert programme broadcast through the Astro Ria channel recently, MCMC said an investigation was conducted following public complaints on the matter.

In one incident, host Datuk Seri Aliff Syukri said he wanted to “choose the ugly woman in this concert” during a promotional spiel, a label met by widespread titters in the audience and seeming incredulity by other hosts and celebrities present.

He picked a lady in the audience, stating that her face looked like a bomoh (witch doctor) and talked up his products while smearing said product on it, much to her seeming shock and discomfort.

In another incident, Aliff reportedly made a racist joke on the skin colour of singer Santesh.

In response the MCMC called Astro in on Nov 7 to discuss the incident as well as the precautionary measures and corrective actions taken.

"The apologies from the sponsor and Astro were released during the programme broadcasted on Nov 11," said the statement, adding that as in an effort to prevent a repeat of the incident, Astro had also pre-recorded any segment involving the major sponsor of the programme.

"The MCMC views the matter seriously and has issued a warning to Astro to ensure that incidents like this do not happen again.

"Astro, the Individual Content Application Service Provider (CASP-i) licence holder is subject to compliance with the Special License Terms and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Content Code," said the statement..

Cosmetics millionaire Aliff earned widespread condemnation over his controversial antics on the programme. - Bernama