The popular American children’s animated series Santiago of the Seas has been temporarily removed from Malaysian television following viewer complaints about alleged LGBTQ+ themes.
The CGI action-adventure cartoon, which follows eight-year-old pirate Santiago and his crew as they defend their Caribbean homeland, aired an episode on Sunday 16 November at 10pm on TV2, one of the country’s national broadcasters.
Following the broadcast, several viewers took to social media to express concerns. One Threads user claimed they were “shocked” after allegedly seeing “two men kissing” during the episode.
Broadcaster Finds No LGBTQ+ Content — Still Pulls Show
In response, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), the national broadcaster, launched an internal content review. However, according to a statement provided to the Malay Mail, the review found no evidence of LGBTQ+ representation or same-sex affection in the episode.
“Based on the content evaluation report and the checks conducted, there were no actions or displays of affection suggesting same-sex relationships, nor any elements pointing towards such behaviour,” said a spokesperson from RTM’s Public Relations Division.
Despite this, the broadcaster confirmed that it would pause the airing of the series to “conduct a more detailed review” and prevent any content that might “raise doubt or touch on public sensitivities”.
Politicians Add Fuel to the Fire
The decision to pull the show was welcomed by some politicians, including Mohd Nor Hamzah, a member of the Islamist party PAS. He described foreign children’s media as a potential vehicle for “subtle promotion of LGBTQ+ ideologies”.
“It is vital for the government to scrutinise foreign media content before it reaches our children, as these influences are becoming increasingly difficult to detect,” he said.
“The government should prioritise local animation that reflects our culture and values, rather than allowing harmful foreign influences to infiltrate our children’s minds.”
LGBTQ+ Censorship in Malaysia
Malaysia has a long history of state censorship regarding LGBTQ+ content. Homosexuality is criminalised under laws dating back to British colonial rule, with penalties including up to 20 years’ imprisonment, fines, and caning.
The country’s 1984 Printing Presses and Publications Act is frequently used to restrict films, television, and publications that feature or reference LGBTQ+ themes.
While Santiago of the Seas remains available internationally, its future on Malaysian TV remains uncertain pending RTM’s in-depth content review.
