Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) has temporarily suspended the broadcast of the animated series Santiago of the Seas on TV2 following public complaints about the content of its 22nd episode, which aired on Sunday.
The decision came after a viral post on Threads claimed the episode allegedly contained lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) elements. According to the user who uploaded the post, he was shocked to see what he believed was a scene of two men kissing while watching the show with his child.
In response, the Broadcasting Department’s Public Relations Division confirmed that RTM had received several viewer complaints regarding the episode.
“Based on the content evaluation report and our internal review, we found no behaviour or intimacy that depicts same-sex relationships, nor any elements pointing toward such content.
“However, to ensure there are no aspects that could create confusion or sensitivity within the community, RTM has decided to suspend the broadcast of the animation pending a more thorough review of the entire series,” the statement said.
RTM stressed its commitment to ensuring all broadcast content complies with broadcasting standards and does not cause discomfort to the public.
“RTM urges all parties not to spread unnecessary speculation and to refer directly to RTM for verified information,” it added.
