TWO Sugarbook advertisements on electronic billboards in Kuala Lumpur have been removed, said Fahmi Fadzil. 

The Lembah Pantai MP told The Malaysian Insight that the advertisements for the controversial dating app were removed after he lodged a complaint with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) licensing department at around 7.30pm last night.

Fahmi said he had learnt about the advertisements on Twitter and was performing his evening prayers at the Saidina Abu Bakar As-Siddiq Mosque before going to see the advertisements.

“I was waiting at the mosque entrance and I saw the billboard,” said Fahmi.

The advertisements were on two electronic billboards located near Jalan Maarof in Bangsar and the other was seen around Mont Kiara, two popular upmarket enclaves in the city. It is understood that the advertisements began airing on December 3.

Fahmi said he then contacted the DBKL director and deputy director for the advertisement licensing unit.

“I was told that the advertisements were removed between 7.30pm to 10pm,” he said.

He added that he was informed by Kuala Lumpur mayor Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan that the advertisements were taken down after public complaints.

“I have asked DBKL to conduct an investigation and prepare a report,” said the PKR communications director. 

He said the companies responsible for the electronic billboards would be asked to explain to DBKL. 

Sugarbook is a Malaysian-based company that aims to pair affluent men and women who are termed as “sugar daddies or mommies” with “sugar babies”. 

According to the website, “sugar daddies” are termed as well established wealthy individuals who wish to pamper “sugar babies” with financial support in return for love and companionship.

The company was started in December 2016 and has since expanded to Singapore and the Philippines. 

Fahmi said the website and its advertisement were unsuitable in Malaysia and went against most norms. 

“I don’t think the website sits well with our Eastern values,” said Fahmi. 

He added that although Sugarbook is a legitimate business, it needs to understand the context, culture and religious sensitivities in the country. – December 18, 2019.