Commentary: Little wonder why Malaysians are angry over celebrity Neelofa’s repeated COVID-19 breaches
JOHOR BAHRU: Noor Neelofa Mohd Noor, popularly known as Neelofa, and her husband Muhammad Haris Muhammad Ismail (improve known equally PU Riz) are popular glory influencers.
Yet in contempo months, they have been in the news for the wrong reasons, and now made infamous for connected breaches of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) under the Malaysia's Move Control Orders (MCO).
From a wedding ceremony that conspicuously violated social distancing requirements, a questionable "piece of work trip" to Langkawi, to crossing land lines for a carpet shopping trip and hosting a family gathering on the get-go day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, they not simply committed multiple infringements only as well blithely posted these on social media.
This week, they pleaded non guilty to charges of failing to register with the MySejahtera tracing app at the carpet shop in Negeri Sembilan. Police force appear that they would not be pressing charges for crossing state borders, on the advice of the Attorney-General's Chambers.
Immediately after the hearing, netizens pointed out that Neelofa did non habiliment a mask under her niqab at the Seremban Magistrate Court equally required by the COVID-xix ordinances. Investigation into this latest saga has begun.
READ: Commentary: Malaysia's nationwide MCO - deprival, doubts and divisions threaten effectiveness
Celebrity SLIP UPS?
Unfortunately, Neelofa and PU Riz are not the only celebrities breaking COVID-19 rules. While early on in the pandemic, Malaysian celebrities had come together to remind Malaysians to abide by the SOPs, many have been seen blatantly ignoring them.
Police have started investigations into Siti Nurhaliza, i of Malaysia's most popular singers, for holding an effect to commemorate the nascence of her newborn babe. Several of her guests and other dignitaries were reported to accept crossed state lines to attend the consequence.
This disregard for rules go beyond the poor behaviour of a few individuals and seem to be somewhat commonplace.
Over the past few months, a number of Instagram influencers have been fined for providing faux information in their travel applications while others were fined for Hari Raya video greetings without a mask.
A way show by local make Leeyanarahman Collection in Kuala Lumpur held in March showed many style show attendees without their masks on.
READ: Commentary: Some hurting fifty-fifty equally Singapore rises to the challenge of tighter COVID-19 measures
DOUBLE STANDARDS
Acrimony towards celebrity breaches of SOPs has bubbled over. A national petition to put Neelofa and her married man in jail gathered 25,000 signatures in less than 36 hours, simply the demands include a halting of the double-standards in police enforcement and understandably and then.
On the same 24-hour interval in April that Neelofa, her married man and her family members were fined a full of RM60,000 (US$14,500) for holding a wedding without social distancing and masks, a street vendor in Kelantan was fined RM50,000 for keeping his burger stall open up across 10pm, sparking aroused comparisons. No wonder Neelofa quickly offered to pay the burger seller's fine.
READ: Commentary: Najib Razak's fine and a tale of double standards in Malaysia
The frustration over the double standards as well seem to revolve around a perceived higher brunt of proof for celebrities. Most celebrities and dignitaries caught on camera breaching SOPs are called in for investigations before they are charged.
Some regular citizens, however, are given immediate summons on the spot well beyond their fiscal ways without the need for further investigations. Some have spent time in jail considering of their inability to pay the fine or entreatment against the charges.
Practise these personalities think they are above the police force? Do they not know they're breaking the law?
READ: Commentary: Mixed messaging, misinformation in Malaysia are complicating compliance with COVID-19 rules
It might be a few bad eggs just information technology'southward hard to milkshake off the feeling of injustice. While ordinary Malaysians are fabricated to stay home, celebrities could not but walk around without their masks, they could as well hold events like the Iftar party on Apr 29 in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
Worse, celebrities seem overly fixated on how the MCO will impact them and are unbothered with the vast challenges faced by the country thrown upwardly past the pandemic.
Kamal Adli and Uqasha Senrose, another celebrity couple, announced in end-March plans to have three hymeneals celebrations. They said they promise that SOP restrictions would be eased by and then. Netizens were quick to point out that they should hope COVID-19 numbers come up downwardly instead.
DISPLAYS OF EXTRAVAGANCE
Indeed, the most painful realisation is how extravagantly these celebrities live while the remainder of the nation suffers.
Many on social media take pointed out how the brazen displays of wealth and luxury are offensive at a time when others have lost jobs, are suffering sharp drops of income, or are unwell.
Given that a number of these celebrities tap Islamic hijabi trends to engage their followers, there have also been questions about how pious they really are and whether they are the sort of role models people should be looking up to.
Some take pointed out besides that Neelofa's spouse, PU Riz, is an Islamic preacher. Withal, the couple'south demonstrations of self-indulgence and outright condone of SOP breaches run counter to the moderation and honesty expected of religious spokespersons.
READ: Commentary: Frustrated with tightened COVID-19 restrictions, Johor residents hope this MCO is the final
FOCUSING ON FIGHTING THE PANDEMIC
While celebrities who continually flout SOP restrictions with no regard for the dangers of COVID-19 have come under huge criticism, at that place are a handful of fans who seem to unwaveringly back up their Insta-heroes.
Neelofa, for example, continues to have a huge post-obit on Instagram, with some calling her a "stiff girl" for overcoming the controversy around her. That also is problematic if such behaviours are setting the standards for immature Malaysians and sending the wrong signal about the seriousness with which COVID-19 rules should exist treated with.
When artistes keep breaking the police force with impunity and seem to go away with mere slaps on their wrists, public frustration can fuel resistance against the rules and divert needed attention on breaking the concatenation of transmission.
This lack of focus on fighting the pandemic is even more dangerous at present that Malaysia's new daily infection numbers have reached half dozen,000 cases, with ICU beds quickly filling upwardly and the number of dead rising.
Hospitals in Kedah have already declared they volition no longer allow chronic patients into the ICU. A infirmary in Sungai Buloh, Selangor, has fifty-fifty set up refrigerated shipping containers just to shop bodies of the dead.
The situation is increasingly dire and Malaysians need to focus on the pandemic to reduce its spread, instead of getting distracted by ceaseless celebrity dramas.
Celebrities similar Neelofa likewise can practice their role – past obeying the police force.
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Dr Serina Rahman, Visiting Boyfriend at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Found, writes from Johor where she's in lockdown with the rest of Malaysia.
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/neelofa-fine-jail-honeymoon-wedding-carpet-celebrities-malaysia-235396
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