“Food is expensive, ringgit is weak, cost of living is high & jobs are scarce.
“Msians are becoming tired & angry for being squeezed over debts we did not create.
“Stop making excuses & looking for faults. Focus on the job of getting our country back on track! Disappointing!” the popular celebrity tweeted on the social networking service.
Sheila’s post was re-tweeted over 2,800 times and received more than 1,600 likes. It also received about 70 comments four hours after it was posted.
While some comments supported her views, others questioned her lifestyle and suggested that she would not understand the hardships caused by the high cost of living, weak ringgit and lack of job opportunities.
Among those that voiced support for Sheila’s tweet is Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“Satu per satu ikon Malaysia bersuara demi masa depan negara. Dari @fatiyalatiff , @aznilnawawiHM dan sekarang Sheila Majid. Anak muda khususnya kena berani kehadapan. Masa depan terletak di tangan anda. Kalau bukan kita, siapa lagi? Terima kasih @SheilaMajid,” he tweeted.
The translation of his tweet reads: “One by one Malaysian icons are speaking up for the future of the country. From @fatiyalatiff , @aznilnawawiHM and now Sheila Majid. The youths, in particular, should be courageous to move forward. The future is in your hands. If not us, then who? Thank you @SheilaMajid”.
However, tweeter PPTU The Return posted: “Tapi skrg ringgit semakin pulih, stabil dan lebih baik drpd 2 tahun sebelum ini. Tak suka ker tengok nilai ringgit kita sdg pulih? (But the ringgit is strengthening, stable and better than two years ago. Don’t you like to see the ringgit improve?”
Another Twitter user, Affif, responded: “tp ringgit sebelum ni 3.2… and peak at 2.8. acano tu? (Before this, the ringgit was 3.2 to US dollar and even peaked at 2.8. What about that?”)
Some attacked Sheila’s lifestyle and said that as an entertainer, she had nothing to complain about.
“Well, your living now doesn’t look like you are suffering. Are you?” commented ShimaSamatOfficial.
There were those who rudely told the singer to stick to what she was good at — singing.
Sheila, who is known for hits like Antara Anyir Dan Jakarta and Sinaran, is not the only celebrity who has spoken out on social media about the current high cost of living in the country.
Recently, actress Fathia Latiff questioned why investigations were only now being carried out on the Bank Negara Malaysia forex losses which occurred in the 1990s.
She also tweeted that investigations should be carried out on the money deposited into the private accounts of “certain individuals”.
Her tweets earned a reminder from the prime minister’s aide, Rizal Mansor, who reminded artistes not to become the opposition’s tools.
Rizal had said that based on what happened during the 2013 general election, artistes were merely used for ceramah and they were forgotten once the elections were over.
Focus strays in Mahathir interview as social media pans host