KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - A Malaysian TV station said Monday it had withdrawn an advertisement marking the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr which was criticised as "un-Islamic' for having a Christmas-like theme.

The private TV3 channel started last week airing the one-minute commercial marking the end of the Ramadan fasting month, showing a man wearing an Islamic skullcap taking children on a magical trishaw for a ride through the sky.

Some viewers in Muslim-majority Malaysia said the character was reminiscent of Santa Claus, and several groups demanded it be retracted. There was also criticism that the ad featured a lotus flower, which is linked to Buddhism.

"TV3 apologises on the airing of the advertisement... which has offended many people," the station said in a statement, adding that it had been taken off air.

"We will be more cautious to avoid similar incidents to happen again in the future," it added.

Religion and language are sensitive issues in multiracial Malaysia, which was hit by deadly race riots in 1969.

Some 60 per cent of the 28 million population are Muslim Malays, living alongside large ethnic Chinese and Indian communities who have expressed fear that the country is being "Islamised" and their rights are being eroded.