"What's There To Be Proud Of?" – Controversial Preacher Says Of Michelle Yeoh's Oscar Win
"We cannot be proud of something that doesn't benefit the faith," said PU Syed Mohd Bakri Syed Ishak.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 15 Mar 2023, 06:12 PM
Controversial preacher PU Syed Mohd Bakri Syed Ishak has drawn backlash for saying that there is nothing Malaysia needs to be proud of about Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh's Oscar win
The preacher made the statement on Facebook on Monday, 13 March, after Yeoh became the first Asian in the Academy's 95-year history to be accorded the most prestigious acting award.
"How is winning an Oscar something to be proud of?" he said in his Facebook status without naming the Ipoh-born actress.
"How does it make Malaysia proud? What's there to be proud of? We cannot be proud of something that doesn't benefit the faith.
"Let them (the faithless) be proud of her success, [but] not those with Iman (strong faith in Islam)."
PU Syed's comments were met with heated response from netizens, with many slamming him for inciting disharmony among Malaysians
"I am proud of Michelle Yeoh. I watched her movies since I was a kid. If you are not proud (of her), then it's your problem," read a top comment.
"Don't use social media, ustaz. Later ustaz will start spreading heresies that are dangerous," added another Facebook user.
"Don't have a rotten heart, (your) mouth should be courteous. This is not the first time. People have noticed (your controversial statements) many times. May Allah remove the darkness in your heart. Amen," wrote a netizen.
The preacher also posted the same statement on Instagram, garnering 1,800 likes and 260 comments on the post.
Many comments were also against what he said, with one saying that while Yeoh did not uplift the Muslim faith, she made the country proud, reminding him that Malaysia is a multiracial country.
In a follow-up post on Instagram yesterday, 14 March, he wondered why people were upset about his Facebook status
"I didn't expect they'd be so angry when I asked why should we be proud of the Oscars award that was won by that actress?" he wrote.
"Is it because she got to act with other popular Hollywood actors? Is that the reason why Malaysia became popular? Or because of the countless (honourary) titles she holds?"
Of the reasons he listed, he did not address what netizens criticised him for, which was unnecessarily bringing up religion in an individual's achievement.
Instead, he doubled down on his stance, writing in the caption that he was merely trying to tell the public what a Muslim should and should not be proud of.
Previously, PU Syed was also embroiled in controversy for calling all Muslims to reject the arrival of the South Korean girl group, BLACKPINK
Speaking in a video on 25 January, he urged his over 100,000 followers on Instagram to "make an effort to protest and completely oppose the organising of this nonsense concert".
The religious leader also encouraged his followers to "block" fans from attending the concert and disrupt the event.
"Enough of the rampant immorality. The way they (international artists) dress, the way they live, the way they entertain is getting too extreme now," he wrote in the video's caption.
