Mediacorp apologises to Najib for offensive comments on OK Chope!

SINGAPORE — Mediacorp Channel 5 and the production team behind comedy show OK Chope! issued an apology on Wednesday (April 5) to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, after the show’s panellists made inappropriate comments about the Malaysian leader during an episode that was telecast live last Wednesday. 

The segment was pulled from repeat telecast. On Wednesday evening, the show’s host, Vernetta Lopez, and freelance artiste Najip Ali — one of those who made the offending remarks — also apologised on television in a recorded broadcast. 

The incident prompted Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue a statement to say that its government “views seriously the offensive comments and insinuations made against the Malaysian leadership and hopes that such occurrence will not be repeated”. Adding that it took note of the apology, the ministry said: “Malaysia and Singapore continue to work towards elevating bilateral relations to greater heights for the mutual benefit of both countries. It is therefore imperative that this relationship is nurtured in the spirit of harmony and mutual respect.” 

The episode in question included a segment about the Malaysian Prime Minister. Participants on the programme were asked to complete a sentence that read: “(PM) Najib slams ... for threatening Malaysia’s progress”.

On Tuesday, The New Straits Times reported that an Umno Youth member had demanded that the comedian issue a public apology to Mr Najib. Malaysia’s Bernama news agency also described the answers given by the participants, including Najip, as demeaning.  

Responding to media queries, Mediacorp’s chief customer officer Debra Soon said: “Channel 5 and the production team behind OK Chope! wish to sincerely apologise to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak for a segment on last week’s episode.

“OK Chope!, a weekly live show, features comedians providing humorous takes on news and current affairs. Last week’s episode included references to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak which were in poor taste and offensive. We have thus pulled it from repeat telecast with immediate effect. We apologise unreservedly for this mistake.”

Mr Najip added: “Over the last few days I have reflected on the comments I made during a segment on a Channel 5 comedy show which referenced Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. I realise how insensitive and callous I was. I would like to apologise unreservedly to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. I beg his forgiveness and that of my viewers and friends.”