Shila Amzah upset over negative press

KUALA LUMPUR: "If you can’t write something nice, then you better not write anything about me at all,” declared Malaysian singer Shila Amzah, who flew back from her current base in China on Wednesday afternoon to conduct a press conference with her father and manager ND Lala.

Denying that her recent concert in Malaysia was sponsored by the country’s biggest gambling corporation, Shila exclaimed, “I was very offended as this damages my reputation as a Muslim and a headscarf-wearer, and my father to whom religion is most important.”

Plagued by a spate of negative news reports from local Malay media, ND Lala stated, “It’s alright if you write gossip, we can accept that. But, this is defamation.”

Shila, who had also scheduled a meet-up with concerned local fans right after the press conference, added, “This I cannot apologize for. I’m sorry but it is unacceptable to watch my mother crying because of this. I think everyone who has a family will understand the pain we are going through now.”

“If you don’t like me, you can just tell me to my face,” said Shila, and warned, “Don’t come near my parents.”

The controversy began when a fan posted a message under the instagram account shilaamzah_photography praising the Chinese press for their comprehensive coverage of Shila’s first solo concert in Malaysia and questioned the Malay press for being more interested in gossip and not showing similar support to the 24-year-old Malaysian singer.

“Shila did not blast the Malay media. Shila merely reposted a fan’s personal opinion,” stressed ND Lala, 52, who also wanted to clarify that his wife Fauziah Sarman, 45, was not involved in the running of shilaamzah_photography, as was alleged. “That account does not belong to my wife, nor is she the administrator. We do not know the person behind shilaamzah_photography,” he explained.

The matter was further compounded by Malay media claiming that they did not receive invitations to cover the concert, which the concert promoters Mega Ultimate refuted with screenshots of their e-mailed invitations to all media including Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian, and testimonies from staff responsible for the follow-up phone calls.

Commenting on calls for an apology to Malay media, who have threatened to boycott the singer, both father and daughter felt that there was no logical reason to offer an apology for the defamatory claims, but would not hesitate to do so if it would help to diffuse the tension.

Shila’s popularity in China received a major boost after she placed third in the hugely popular reality talent show I Am A Singer Season 2 earlier this year. Signed to Shanghai Media Entertainment Group in China, Shila is currently in the process of recording her debut Mandarin album in Beijing.