Malaysia publicly criticizes Rose's 'APT.' for promotion of 'negative' Western values
A photo posted by the Malaysian Ministry of Health on Facebook, says that the lyrics of "APT." openly promote an unhealthy lifestyle and normalize Western culture. Captured from the Malaysian Ministry of Health’s Facebook page
By KTimes
The Malaysian government has openly criticized the song "APT.," a global hit sung by BLACKPINK's Rose and American pop star Bruno Mars, citing concerns that it promotes negative Western values to the country's youth.
On Friday, Malaysia’s Ministry of Health shared a post on its official Facebook page, featuring a photo of Rose and Bruno Mars, along with a message stating that the song’s lyrics "explicitly encourage an unhealthy lifestyle."
Inspired by a popular Korean drinking game, the song "APT." was co-written by Rose and has gained popularity worldwide for its catchy lyrics and melody. The music video reached 100 million views on YouTube within five days of its release on Oct. 23, and Rose debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, Tuesday, the highest rank for a female K-pop artist.
The Malaysian government raised issues with specific lyrics, claiming that portraying an apartment as a place of temptation conflicts with Eastern values.
They objected to lines such as “Kissy face, kissy face, sent to your phone but, I'm trying to kiss your lips for real” and “let’s turn the apartment into a club, drink and dance all night.”
Malaysia is a Muslim-majority nation, with roughly 60 percent of its population identifying as Muslim, and as such, it strictly prohibits alcohol under Sharia law.
The Health Ministry voiced concern over the song’s pervasive presence on social media, worrying that children might unconsciously memorize and repeat lyrics without understanding their meaning.
The ministry urged “parents, educators and communities to respond cautiously and sensitively to unfiltered Western cultural influences."
They also acknowledged that “fans of the song might interpret it differently” and encouraged individuals to analyze and judge the lyrics themselves.
By Tuesday morning, the post had gathered nearly 2,500 comments, with some criticizing the government for inadvertently promoting "APT." in Malaysia or for not targeting other Western songs with similarly provocative content.
Some analysts believe the backlash may also stem from tensions over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Last October, Bruno Mars performed in Tel Aviv, which could have been perceived by the Malaysian government as a sign of support for Israel.
Malaysia has backed Palestine as an "Islamic brother nation" since the conflict began, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim publicly condemning Israel’s actions against Hamas on Oct. 21, calling them unjust.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.