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Malaysian television host Neelofa’s wedding took place on March 27, 2021. Photo: Instagram

Malaysian host Neelofa and family fined US$14,000 for violating coronavirus rules

  • During her wedding on March 27, guests were pictured without masks and ignoring social distancing
  • Neelofah and her husband were further criticised when they later travelled interstate to enjoy a cable car ride and go jet-skiing
Agencies

Popular Malaysian television host Neelofah on Tuesday said she had learned her lesson after violating the country’s coronavirus protocols, for which she and her family were fined a total of 60,000 ringgit (US$14,600).

During her wedding on March 27, guests were seen taking part in the festivities without masks and ignoring social distancing rules in pictures that surfaced on social media, sparking backlash against the celebrity.

Neelofah and her husband Muhammad Haris Mohd Ismail, also known as PU Riz, were further criticised when they were photographed enjoying a cable car ride and going jet-skiing after their wedding, during what they described was a work trip but some speculated was their honeymoon, The Star reported.

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Dang Wangi police chief ACP Mohamad Zainal Abdullah on Tuesday said authorities gave a 20,000 ringgit (US4,880) fine to Neelofah, a 10,000 ringgit fine to her husband, and that 20 members of the couple’s family were also issued fines of 1,500 ringgit each for defying social distancing protocols during the solemnisation ceremony.

“I accept it with an open heart and will take the [punishment] as a lesson to make sure that the interstate approval is properly used as agreed upon by authorities,” she said on Tuesday.

“It will also serve as a warning to others who are involved, including myself, during my wedding ceremony to always emphasise the importance of [coronavirus standard operating procedures],” said the celebrity, whose real name is Noor Neelofa Mohd Noor.

Neelofa on April 9 released a video apologising for her actions, saying: “My husband and I admit and accept any actions or decision from the authorities ... I should have set a better example.”

Malaysian celebrity Neelofa said she should have ‘set a better example’. Photo: Instagram
Malaysia has reported some 370,000 coronavirus cases and more than 1,400 related deaths, with a state of emergency in place since January due to an early-year spike in numbers.

The country on Monday said it would halt the entry of Indian nationals and passengers, as well as impose controls for ships from the South Asian country docking at Malaysia’s ports as India struggles with an explosion of infections.

The move will take effect on Wednesday, the New Straits Times reported, citing Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Malaysia began vaccinating frontline workers such as doctors and police in February, with a second phase, covering elderly and high-risk groups with conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, commencing last week.

Reporting by The Star, Bloomberg, dpa

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