CNN
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by Michelle Yeoh Historic Oscar caused cheers this week in his native Malaysia, but it also sparked false rumors that a national holiday had been declared – which the country’s government quickly dispelled.
In a statement posted on its Facebook page on Monday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s office debunked a doctored image that had made the rounds on chat apps.
The image, dated March 13 and seen by CNN, showed a doctored news article from the Malaysian newspaper The Star, with the headline: “Prime Minister Anwar declares a public holiday on a Wednesday: ‘It’s the pride of a nations!”
It seemed to refer to a earlier statement of Anwar, congratulating Yeoh on his victory.
There was “no truth” to the claims of an Oscars holiday, the statement from Anwar’s office read. “The news is fake,” he said. “The public is urged not to disseminate or share uncertain or false information.”
Star Media Group, which runs an English-language online news portal and publishes a daily newspaper, also said the image was a “distortion of (its) actual media coverage”.
“It has come to the company’s attention that a photo, depicting a manipulated image that misuses The Star’s identity, is making the rounds on social media,” the band said in a statement.
“Star Media Group would like to remind that it has not released any news regarding the announcement of a public holiday on March 15, 2023.
“The public is encouraged to verify the authenticity of these released images by visiting (our website) and reading our verified information, straight from the source.”
Yeoh, 60, this week has become the first asian woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
Born in the city of Ipoh in Peninsular Malaysia, Yeoh debuted in a series of action movies in Hong Kong.
She rose to international fame after starring in the James Bond film “Tomorrow Never Dies” in 1997 and Ang Lee’s Oscar-winning “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” in 2000.
His victory speech was broadcast live at an event in the capital Kuala Lumpur on Monday, attended by his 84-year-old mother Janet.
Footage of the room bursting into joy went viral and Yeoh also dedicated his Oscar moment to his mother.
“I’m bringing this to her home,” Yeoh said in her acceptance speech. “She is watching in Malaysia, KL right now with my family and friends. I love you. I’m bringing this home to you,” she said.
Her mother shouted “Malaysia boleh! (Malaysia can do it)” in a subsequent video chat with her triumphant daughter.
“I am very happy… I am proud of my daughter. She is very hardworking,” her mother told local reporters. “I will call her to come home (to Malaysia) and party very soon. Next month is my birthday.
Yeoh’s niece Vicki was also present, who called it a “breathtaking moment”.