Compiled by M.IRSYAD, C.ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHAN
FANS of Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudi have defended the nation’s top singer for performing at a concert headlined by David Foster, a world famous composer who is also a supporter of Israel.
Siti Nurhaliza’s performance at the Hitman Returns – David Foster and Friends concert in Indonesia on June 15 had attracted a storm of criticism from Malaysian netizens, Kosmo! reported.
The criticism is especially stinging as Siti Nurhaliza has regularly posted on social media about the plight of Palestinians killed in the on-going Hamas-Israel war.
She even complained last year that her posts had been censored by some platforms.
One of her critics, Amir Jahari, winner of the 38th edition of Anugerah Juara Lagu, made provocative comments about her performance at the concert, the Malay daily claimed.
Amir pointed out that Foster is a known supporter of Israel and had even donated to the Israeli army.
One fan, however, responded by saying that Amir should not take advantage of the sensitive issue.
“Right now, we (the fans) don’t feel good. It’s as if Siti has never done any good at all.”
Prior to Amir’s comments, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Malaysia had also expressed their disappointment towards Siti Nurhaliza for performing at the concert.
> The Malaysian Armed Forces foiled an attempt to smuggle 720kg of ketum leaves estimated to be worth RM57,600 to Thailand at the country’s border in Padang Terap, Kedah, on Wednesday night, Berita Harian reported.
The Malaysian Infantry’s Second Division said the ketum leaves were seized from a pickup in a forested area that is patrolled by the division’s 6th Brigade at 9pm.
“A team from the observation post found a pickup abandoned in suspicious circumstances in a forest area near the Malaysia-Thailand border.
“Investigation found a total of 71 packages containing ketum leaves weighing 720kg in the vehicle,” it said.
The packages and vehicle were handed over to the Kuala Nerang police station.
Since cultivating the plant is largely legal, farmers and landowners in the northern states continue to grow ketum and smuggle the leaves to Thailand.
The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.
