International actress Datuk Seri Michelle Yeoh is the target of fierce attacks in cyberspace after reports emerged that the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon star has accepted an invitation to attend a mammoth dinner organised by a group of Selangor Chinese businessmen.
Netizens took to social networking sites to criticise Michelle after an unofficial Facebook page in Chinese “We Fully Support PKR ” highlighted a local Chinese daily report about the event, which would also be attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.
The page, which was set up in 2010 and has over 300,000 “Likes”, posted a message on April 12 addressed to Michelle, which said: “You were once Malaysian people’s pride but now no longer.”
The anonymous author of the post then went on to ask Michelle if she had “any idea how her fellow countrymen live” before urging the 49-year-old actress to reconsider her decision and “not become a traitor”.
As at yesterday, the post had received close to 7,000 “Likes” and over 1,300 comments, most of which condemned Michelle.
However, others, including her father Datuk Yeoh Kian Tiek, came to Michelle’s defence, reminding Netizens that she had the right to support any political party.
“We should respect every voter, instead of criticising them and claiming that they shouldn’t vote for BN. That’s the true spirit of democracy,” wrote Jovis Low.
Urging people to be more understanding, Kian Tiek said his daughter had the freedom to decide whichever dinner or event she wanted to attend.
“It is her decision and they should respect it,” said the active Perak MCA politician, who claimed to be unaware of the online criticisms.
The event at West Port, Klang, on April 20 is expected to host 55,000 people in a bid to gain entry into the Malaysian Book of Records as the largest sit-in dinner in the country.
The dinner was jointly organised by prominent businessmen, including Datuk Philip Siew, Tan Sri Ta Kin Yan, Tan Sri Abu Sahid Mohamed and Datuk Alex Chuah Poh Khiang, together with Gabungan Persatuan Keturunan Cina Selangor.
Chuah said Michelle had agreed to attend the dinner because she would be in Malaysia at that time.
