Headline on Thai golfer brews storm of criticism in Malaysia

A picture of the 24-year-old Thai crouching on the green went with the headline “Hot Porn” in big type in the newspaper’s Sunday edition. The paper might have been trying to spice up the story to attract readers’ attention, but the headline was widely condemned by Malaysian readers.
The Women’s Aid Organisation of Malaysia (WAO) issued a statement denouncing the headline, saying it was “sexist and disrespectful” to all women.  
“The headline is not only sexist and disrespectful to Pornanong, but to all women. Furthermore, it is culturally insensitive.
“WAO would like to urge The Star to adhere to the Malaysian Press Institute Code of Ethics, which states that sensational and provocative headlines should be avoided,” the statement read.
After the story was posted on the WAO’s Facebook page, it sparked a deluge of comments from Malaysians, who criticised the paper’s ill-advised decision to run the headline.
One respondent questioned the editor’s judgement, saying: “How can the editor let this get printed? Is it not your job to proof-read every article before it’s printed? It’s degrading to her and to every woman.”
Another critic went said the incident reflected the sort of organisation The Star really was.
“It’s degrading in any culture. Furthermore she is a guest in Malaysia. Show some respect. Plus she excels in a sport that the pea-brain editor can only dream of. Says a lot about the paper and its administration,” read a comment.
The Star tried to defuse the issue by printing a clarification in its Monday edition, saying: “We take note of some of our readers’ displeasure over the play of words in our headline on the back page [on] October 12 and assure that no offence was intended. We will be more sensitive in crafting headlines in future.”