PU Syed Claims Michelle Yeoh’s Oscar Win Is “Nothing To Be Proud Of” & Doesn’t Benefit Religion

By Lara Kramer  •  15 Mar 2023 in News

Thirsty for JUICE content? Quench your cravings on our Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp

Ipoh-born Michelle Yeoh’s milestone win at the Oscar’s sparked mixed reactions from Malaysians. The actress bagged the ‘Best Actress’ award for her role as Evelyn Wang in the blockbuster film, Everything Everywhere All At Once.

While from one angle, some ‘claimed’ the success an achievement of the nation, while others noted that Malaysians had “nothing to do with it”.

It’s noteworthy that the film in question, which bagged 7 Oscars in total, entailed LGBT elements and flying sex toys. Yesterday, JUICE mentioned how a film of such nature would be ostracised here – if it even made it past the screenwriters’ desk in the first place.

13 March 2023

The Government joins the nation in expressing warmest and heartiest congratulations to Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh for winning the highly coveted Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 95th Academy Awards in Los Angeles today.#MalaysiaMADANI pic.twitter.com/7uc3pbzEox

— Anwar Ibrahim (@anwaribrahim) March 13, 2023

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also took to Twitter to congratulate Michelle on the win, which marks the first Oscar won by a Malaysian national in history.

Netizens called him out for “hypocritical” behaviour, and some even asked him to give a statement regarding the more ‘controversial’ local films that have been banned, such as Mentega Terbang which was recently removed from Viu for fear that it contradicts Islamic teachings.

Similarly, local preacher PU Syed, who had opposed the presence of international artists such as Billie Eilish and BLACKPINK, has published a statement claiming that Michelle’s win was “nothing to be proud of”, as he believed it brought zero benefit to the general concept of religion.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by SYED MOHD BAKRI SYED ISHAK BENYAHYA (@pusyed_official)

More specifically, he wrote, “What is there to be proud about for winning an Oscar? Making Malaysia proud? What must we be proud for? We cannot take pride in something that does not benefit religious affairs. Leave the sense of pride and achievement to those who have weak faith.”

Needless to say, netizens pretty much slammed him in the comments section, some going so far as to say he was jealous.

The local preacher was the subject of netizens’ fury barely two weeks ago, when he prayed for heavy rain a day before the BLACKPINK concert in hopes that it would disrupt the show.

This was because he believed the girl group’s visit to the country would invite Dajjal and cause Malaysian Muslims to turn self-indulgent.