Social media influencer and Perikatan Nasional activist Syarul Ema Rena Abu Samah, popularly known as Ratu Naga, has issued a public apology after facing backlash for a misleading claim involving a Chinese school in Perak.
The controversy erupted when Syarul Ema shared a video online that appeared to show students at a school event singing what she alleged was the Malaysian national anthem, Negaraku, in Chinese. The event was attended by DAP Socialist Youth chief Woo Kah Leong, which added to the political attention the video received.
Her post implied that the students had shown disrespect toward the national anthem—an accusation that quickly caught fire on social media. Netizens were swift to respond, with many accusing her of spreading misinformation and inflaming racial tensions.
However, as the video gained traction, it was revealed that the students were not singing Negaraku in Chinese, and the anthem being performed was, in fact, the Perak state anthem. Syarul Ema soon admitted her error and took the post down.
In a Facebook statement on Friday, she clarified her actions, stating that she had deleted the video within 10 minutes after realising the mistake.
“For some cybertroopers who claimed I’ve mocked the Perak Anthem, they are mistaken. I didn’t even mention it was the state anthem,” she wrote, addressing the criticism aimed at her online.
Despite her clarification, many netizens continued to criticise the post for fuelling unnecessary racial and political sentiment, especially in a multicultural and sensitive environment like Malaysia’s.
The incident has reignited discussions about the responsibility of public figures and influencers when sharing content online—especially content involving race, language, and national symbols.
While Syarul Ema has apologised, the episode serves as a reminder of the ripple effect misinformation can have, especially when posted by individuals with significant online followings. It also highlights the importance of verifying facts before making public accusations that may deepen ethnic divides or provoke public unrest.
Information Source: Malay Mail
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