KUALA LUMPUR: Outspoken film and drama director Michael Ang has slammed producers who refused to stop filming during the two-week Movement Control Order (MCO), branding them “stupid and selfish”.
The 44-year-old Kimchi Untuk Awak director, in a recent Instagram video, hit out at production houses for endangering the lives of their actors, actresses and staff by disobeying the government's directive to stay at home on March 18.
“Is it that difficult to follow a simple order from the government? Or should the army be called out to make sure you follow orders?
“Please stop shooting, production houses. You have more than 30 people on the set, and if one gets the coronavirus, the others are finished too.
“Don't be stupid and selfish, thinking of your own pockets. Losing money is not as tragic as losing lives. Please stay at home and stay safe!” said Ang.
Netizens applauded Ang for his hard-hitting words of advice to errant production houses.
Television host, actress and entrepreneur Noor Neelofa Mohd Noor said: “I'm glad many of them have stopped filming, but some are just too stubborn. How can they be so ignorant of the danger we face?”
Comedienne Vicha said: “Fully agree with you Michael. I just don't understand why are there so many stubborn people who can't even stay at home!”
Actress Nur Fazura Sharifuddin said: “Oh God! Why are people still shooting dramas and films? Why are they so stubborn?”
Ang's admonition of television producers came shortly after rocker Suhaimi Abdul Rahman or Amy of Search slammed a production company for continuing to film his actress daughter Nabila Huda's latest drama series on March 19, a day after the two-week MCO began.
Amy, 61, called the company “brainless and selfish people” and added that Nabila should be back home.
A day later, the company stopped filming, and award-winning Nabila was allowed to return to Kuala Lumpur from the set in Kelantan.
Michael Ang's video