Compiled by ALLISON LAI, RAHIMY RAHIM and R. ARAVINTHAN
SINGER Ameng, who has been sharing life lessons and his prison experience via TikTok, says the content was not meant to gain attention but rather create awareness among the public.
“Before I was released from prison, I sought permission from the prison director.
“I asked him what message I should convey to society,” Utusan Malaysia quoted Ameng as saying.
“He told me I could share anything as long as the purpose was to serve as a lesson so people would avoid ending up in jail.
“For example, I talk about the food conditions and the difficult experiences there so that people will fear going to prison.”
Ameng, 57, was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment and 10 strokes of the cane by a Sessions Court for three drug-related offences on April 12, 2011.
He was released early for good behaviour in June 2016.
Ameng, whose full name is Wan Aminuddin Wan Ismail, said two of his children had been guiding him on how to use TikTok.
> Live-streamed “spirit-cleansing” treatments on social media are becoming widespread, with many traditional healers openly offering these services online, Harian Metro reported.
They offer treatment for spiritual disturbances and “buang saka” (ancestral spirit removal), among others.
In one broadcast, a healer began a free treatment session for viewers experiencing health problems or certain “disturbances”.
One woman who took part was queried about her symptoms and background.
The healer later instructed her to close her eyes and place her hand on her chest while reciting certain verses.
Soon, the woman appeared to tremble before bursting into tears and claimed to feel heat at the back of her neck.
“Don’t resist, let it come out, don’t be afraid, I’m here,” the healer said while continuing the recitation.
The treatment session lasted about 15 minutes before the patient appeared calm again.
The healer claimed that there could be several causes of her problem such as “dirty intestines” and disturbances caused by “jinn”.
However, several experts have warned that such treatments on social media go against medical ethics and could even endanger patients.
(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.)
