Malaysia TV station axes Muslim ad for Christmas overtones

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters Life!) - A Malaysian television station has axed a commercial for an important Muslim holiday after viewers complained that it looked more like a promotion for Christmas.

State-linked TV3 aired the commercial earlier this month to wish the country's dominant ethnic Malay-Muslims a joyous Eid al-Fitr, which is likely to fall on Friday and marks the end of a month-long Ramadan fast. (here)

The advert shows an avuncular white-haired man taking children to a fantasy land aboard a flying trishaw, drawing complaints from Muslim viewers that it resembled Santa Claus and his sleigh.

TV3's news anchors apologised on Sunday's prime time news broadcast, saying the station had stopped airing the clip -- which stirred a storm on the Malaysian blogosphere with numerous postings lambasting what was seen as an insenstive move by a government-linked company. (here)

TV3 officials could not be reached for comment.

Malaysia's government has struggled to balance relations between Muslims, who make up a majority of the country's 28 million people, and minority Hindus, Christians and Buddhists who complain of growing religious intolerance.

(Reporting by Niluksi Koswanage; Editing by David Fox)