KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 — Sabahan singer Stacy Anam, who recently converted to Islam, is now experiencing the ugly side of fame after some conservative Muslim fans attacked her for posting a short video clip of a Christmas carol on Instagram.
Just four months after embracing the religion, the 25-year-old was accused of “celebrating” Christmas after sharing a video excerpt of carollers singing the classic “O Holy Night” on the popular photo-sharing application.
The accompanying caption on her Instagram account @stacyanam read: “Christmas carol by TKCC” followed by happy emojis and the hashtags #carolling and #thankyou.
Her post drew over 2,700 “likes” and more than 130 comments at the time of writing.
However, some Instagrammers appeared to take issue with her joyful posting and accused the newly-Muslim singer of being insensitive.
“Isn’t Stacy Muslim? How can celebrate Christmas?” said Instagram user @therealsnm in Bahasa Malaysia.
Another user adopted a more conciliatory tone but urged Stacy to be careful of her actions so as not to be seen as proselytising Christianity.
“Can celebrate with friends and family. Not wrong, just be careful. If careless and unaware of songs that praise any God other than Allah,” said @just_zul87 in Bahasa Malaysia.
Other Instagrammers jumped to Sacy’s defence, saying it was not unusual for Christmas in Sabah to be observed and celebrated by all and not just Christians.
“Eee Sabahans are like this. Mutual respect. All festivities are celebrated together by all races and religions. Non-racist harmony,” said @atiezull.
@danielchewdan also sided with Stacy, saying “It’s not wrong for her to visit her family who are still Christians. Why can’t understand such an easy thing? She has embraced Islam but her family is still Christian.”
Some Instagrammers put the attempt to stir controversy down to a peninsula-Borneo divide.
“Peninsula people don’t understand this situation… In Sabah, Muslims and non-Muslims are mixed like family. If Hari Raya, we celebrate together, if Christmas, we also celebrate together,” said @khiruddinawang.
A user with the handle @donna_gabriella chipped in and said it was “normal” for children from churches to go carolling from house to house in Sabah, where many in the villages were still largely Christian, and pointed out that it included Stacy’s hometown, Kampung Tuavon, northeast of Penampang on Sabah’s west coast.
According to a 2010 census, 26.6 per cent of Sabah’s population is Christian and Bumiputera, and regularly worship in the national language.
Controversy over Muslims marking Christmas and even offering greetings to those celebrating the Christian holiday season has been an issue in Muslim-majority Malaysia in recent years.
Stacy, who rose to fame after winning the sixth season of local reality TV series Akademi Fantasia, took on the Muslim name Ummu Shaikhah Stacy Anam upon converting in August. She is to wed another singer, Akim Ahmad next February.
