HILIR Perak district police have received three reports against political influencer Syarul Ema Rena Abu Samah, popularly known as Ratu Naga, for allegedly spreading false claims about Malaysia’s national anthem Negaraku.
The controversy stems from a three-minute-and-40-second video Syarul posted, showing children at a Teluk Intan school singing the Perak state anthem during a June 6, 2024, event launching the school’s Dragon Dance Club.
Syarul claimed the children sang Negaraku in a language other than Malay, citing a breach of the National Anthem Act 1968, which prohibits altering the anthem’s lyrics or language.
District police chief ACP Bakri Zainal Abidin clarified that initial investigations confirmed the video featured the state anthem, not Negaraku, debunking Syarul’s allegations.
The influencer’s comments ignited widespread backlash, prompting her apology on TikTok. Syarul admitted to uploading the video for 10 minutes before deleting it, alleging that Pakatan Harapan “cyber troopers” downloaded and spread it causing it to go viral.
“I apologise for posting it, but after I deleted it, why did others share it for me? What’s their motive?” she said. Perak state exco member Woo Kah Leong condemned the false claim yesterday (April 5), calling it baseless.
Police are now investigating the incident, which has fuelled debates over misinformation and accountability on social media. Syarul’s apology has done little to quell the controversy, as authorities weigh potential legal action under the National Anthem Act. — April 6, 2025
Main photo credit: Utusan Malaysia
