KUALA LUMPUR, August 11 — Malaysian social media influencer Choo Hao Ren, also known as “Haoren,” has issued a public apology after being caught on video recording with his phone while the national anthem was played at an event.
The now-viral clip drew widespread criticism, with Choo admitting his actions were inappropriate and stating he should have sung the anthem with full respect. He expressed remorse and promised to be more mindful in the future.
The incident sparked backlash from netizens and political figures, including Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, who urged punitive action against Choo, stressing that respect for the national anthem is a duty of all Malaysians.
This is not the first controversy for Choo, who in 2021 faced criticism for a skin-whitening product video featuring brownface, for which he also apologised.
