KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran rocker Datuk Hattan has slammed cosmetics entrepreneur Datuk Seri Aliff Syukri Kamarzaman for "taking advantage" of teenage actress Puteri Balqis Azizi's current hardship.
In a Facebook post today, Hattan whose real name is Datuk Shukri Shahabudin lamented that Aliff "sought cheap publicity" by featuring Balqis, 13, and her mother Norashikin Mohamad Aziz on his YouTube channel recently.
Hattan, 56, told Aliff not to take advantage of the actress' financial problems to promote his YouTube channel TV Terlajak Laris.
He said that Aliff ought to leave Balqis and her mother alone, and defended their right to spend cash contributions from well-wishers as they deemed fit.
"It's regrettable that some famous YouTubers are taking advantage of Puteri Balqis and her mother. If you want to make money, please don't be unethical, stop meddling in the lives of others by asking them silly questions, and remember that she's only a teenager.
"Please leave Balqis and her mother alone so that they can have the peace of mind to face life's challenges. And as for cash donations from well-wishers, it is their money, so let them spend it whichever way they want," said Hattan.
Hattan also urged Aliff and fellow YouTubers to use the online video service to promote positive and beneficial news instead.
"YouTube should be for promoting news that is beneficial, it should not be used for cheap publicity that puts others down. YouTubers should learn from Azfar Badrul who promotes small businesses around the country," he said.
It was reported yesterday that Balqis, 13, had closed her Instagram account because of critcism from some Netizens.
They criticised her for a statement she made during a recent interview with cosmetics entrepreneur and actor Datuk Seri Aliff Syukri Kamarzaman.
Aliff asked: "Balqis, if you receive RM100,000 from well-wishers what would you do with the money?"
Balqis, who was accompanied by Norashikin, replied: "I would save part of it, donate part of it to needy people, and invest part of it in forex because we love the graph."
By loving "the graph", she implied that Norashikin enjoyed trading in foreign exchange.
Since her financial hardship was highlighted on TV3 documentary Bersamamu on Jan 12, Balqis has received a lot of support and sympathy from well-wishers.
In Bersamamu, Balqis revealed that she and Norashikin had been in dire financial straits for a year.
She came up with a book of 38 self-penned poems during Hari Raya last year.
Balqis' book 38 Poems Of Puteri Balqis is sold in bookstores and stalls in the Klang Valley, and she and her mother have also sold it in the streets.
The actress' poems speak about her life experiences, including her battle with illness and her courage in facing financial hardship.
In 2018, Balqis was diagnosed with a heart ailment.