PETALING JAYA: Popular singer Anuar Zain calls for authorities to have stringent control on social media as it is getting unruly.
“Surely there is a lot of good things about social media, but as we can see now, the bad outweighs the good. There is a need to have some kind of control.
“It is scary when you think about it. A lot of people misuse the platform to promote slander, spread rumours and make negative comments using explicit words. Some of them are parents. I wonder what would their children think of them when they read what their parents wrote on social media.
The 45-year-old artiste whose hits include Lelaki Ini and Keaabadian Cinta openly admitted that he was not a fan of social media.
“Some people asked me how do I keep myself updated with current issues without social media? I said, there are lots of ways to keep oneself updated without it.
“To me, there are more rumours and slanders on social media than anywhere else. And having to read all those things will only feed you with negative energy,” said Anuar, who has a Facebook fanpage account under the name Anuar Zain Network and even then, it is maintained and handled by his manager.
“That’s my only account, and I don’t have any other social media account including Twitter and Instagram. Other than that, if any, they are all fake accounts created by irresponsible people,” he said, when met at the Ku Mohon Tuhan Berikan Cinta charity concert Press conference at The Terrace, The Curve, Mutiara Damansara KL recently.
Organised by the NGO Islamic Relief Malaysia, among the artistes involved in the concert are popular nasyid group Raihan, Akim & The Majistret, as well as Indonesian singers Opick, Ebiet G Ade, and international artistes Zain Bikha, and Humood Al Khudeer.
The younger brother of popular singer Ziana Zain Anuar expressed his gratitude to his fans who left their messages on his FB fanpage.
“They are very supportive and leave encouraging words. I appreaciate that a lot,” he said.
Anuar also expressed concerns that some take paparazzi shots of him and then upload them on the social media to be shared.
“I really don’t mind anyone wanting to take a photograph with me. All they need to do is ask and I would be more than happy to do so
“Sometimes, I just want to spend my time outside, but some people quietly take my photograph and upload it, telling the whole world where I am at. There’s the issue of safety when people know your location, even if you are not an artiste,” he lamented, adding that he felt his privacy had been violated.
On the charity concert slated for Oct 31 at Stadium Melawati Shah Alam, Anuar said: “I feel blessed to be able to contribute my talent for such a noble cause.”
He is also preparing to release his new album by year end. Yet to be titled, the record will feature eight tracks. Anuar’s last released an album in 2011, titled Anuar Zain Vol. 4.
‘One of the tracks is called Belahan Hati, composed by the Indonesian musician Alam Urbach,” he added.
Tickets for the Ku Mohon Tuhan Berikan Aku Cinta concert are priced between RM73 and RM383, and are available at www.ticketpro.com.my