KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 — The furore over the threats and police investigations into a BFM video on hudud is drawing attention away from the critical debate over the plight of Kelantan, said the presenter being investigated over the clip.

In a statement expressing contrition over the video, Aisyah Tajuddin reiterated that the video was meant to query the priorities of the PAS government in Kelantan and not the Islamic penal law itself.

“I wish to take this opportunity to apologise for both my tone and demeanour in the video. It was never my intention to mock. It was never my intention to insult. I realise that many took offence. For that, I am truly sorry.

“It must be said, however, that the coverage of this incident, has unfortunately distracted from the true intentions of the video, which was always to spur the discourse surrounding the socio-economic conditions of the people in Kelantan,” she said in a statement issued by the radio station today.

Aisyah also expressed concern over hers and her family’s safety following the numerous rape and death threats made against her online, saying these were uncharacteristic of the Malaysia she knew.

The presenter and other employees of BFM were questioned this morning by the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

Aisyah received numerous death and rape threats on various online platforms, following outrage over a video titled “Hudud Isi Periuk Nasi? (Kupas)” (Does hudud fill our rice bowls?) that was posted on BFM’s website and YouTube channel on Thursday.

In the video, Aisyah points out that even as Kelantan is attempting to implement hudud, the east coast state is facing other problems like its homeless flood victims, as well as increasing drug and divorce cases.

BFM later removed the clip and apologised for any offence caused, saying that it was not meant to question the “desirability” of the Islamic penal code, but that it was a satirical commentary on whether hudud’s implementation should be Kelantan’s top priority in light of economic issues and problems faced by flood victims.