KUALA LUMPUR: Award-winning singer Datin Nor Hasliah Abu Hassan or Alyah may be known for her outstanding performances, but social media controversy sometimes catches up with her.
Earlier this month, she was hit with a controversy following a photograph of her wearing a black and white long dress which she posted on her Instagram.
Some detractors remarked that she looked like a Roman Catholic nun.
“Some people can be so nasty - they told me to ‘repent’ for dressing that way.
“I was so hurt, but explained that I wore my headscarf like that since it’s more comfortable to sing that way,” said the 36-year-old artiste, adding that many netizens later accepted her explanation.
Alyah’s Instagram reply was straightforward: “I don’t care what others say about this dress, because it’s coincidental. I’m sure we’ve all seen dresses similar in colour and design from curtains and table cloths. There’s no right and wrong in fashion.”
The “nun dress” remark may have been mean, but Alyah, 36, is not a “quitter”. She believes social media has pros and cons, and the good far outweighs the bad.
“We artistes can’t escape the spotlight, and while it’s beneficial for publicising our gigs, social media also allows judgemental people to hurt us with comments,” she said.
Alyah, who is also wife of music maestro Datuk Ramli MS, now realises who her “true fans and friends” are, because those who genuinely cared for her voiced their reservations about the attire politely via private messages, while some defended her “freedom of choice” since it was a modest yet stylish outfit.
“People are petty these days - social media is supposed to bring us together, but some quarters choose to insult us. Since we can’t censor, the best policy is to occasionally disable comments on our postings,” said Alyah when met after the launch of her new single, Mengapa Harus Aku, a duet with singer Farawahida Razali at Mydin Supermarket, USJ Subang Jaya yesterday.
The song is composed by Alfie Alwi with lyrics by Alyah.
Farawahida, 32, supports Alyah’s stand and that is the reason why she does not upload many images on Instagram or Facebook these days, so as to protect her privacy.
Rumours that her three-year marriage to businessman Shukur Mohamad Zain is on the rocks have been circulating, but she insists this is not the reason behind her move.
“My husband and I are very much together, but we’ve decided not to share our photos. Everybody needs some privacy, including us,” she said, adding that she would only upload photos when necessary.