Malaysia Bans Worldwide Hit Song 'Despacito' Due To Lyrics

Just days after becoming the most streamed song in histroy, Malaysia has banned worldwide hit song, "Despacito" on state radio and television,

The ban applies only to government-run radio and TV outlets, not to private stations or YouTube or the music streaming services fueling the song's success.  

Communications Minister Salleh Said Keruak this morning said the song was reviewed and banned because of public complains that the lyrics are obscene. Salleh was also quoted by local media as saying private radio stations should censor the song themselves out of sensitivity to local culture.  

Not long ago, an Islamic party, Amanah, earlier denounced the song and called for it to be kept off Malaysia's airwaves because many young children were singing it without understanding the words.

Despacito is a Spanish-language song that means "slowly". It was released by Puerto Rican artists Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee in January 2017. The original and the remix featuring Bieber together are the most streamed track of all time with more than 4.6 billion plays across streaming platforms.