KOTA KINABALU: Popular Sabahan singer Stacy Angie Anam has defended the posting of a video of carollers who came to her family home at Kampung Tuavon Penampang, singing the classic Christmas carol O Holy Night.
The singer, who recently converted to Islam, has to come to grips with the unsavoury side of fame after some conservative Muslim fans targeted her, rather unfairly, for posting the short video clip on Instagram.
While her post drew over 4,400 likes and elicited more than 400 comments at the time of writing, one of her followers had seen fit to comment and asked since Stacy is a Muslim why is she celebrating Christmas?
Some followers of the Instagram post had put the attempt to stir controversy down to a peninsula-Borneo divide, but for Stacy, her post was not even an issue.
The reason that I posted the video was simply to share the caroling song with my Christian fans. The carollers came to our home because my parents are Christians. I am perfectly aware of what I am doing, and it should not be made into an issue. We should respect all religions. Since my parents are Christians, there is nothing wrong with carollers coming to our house. It is part of Christmas, she told The Borneo Post.
When asked if she would celebrate Christmas this year after converting, she replied, Everything is still the same. We clean and decorate the house, have a barbecue and of course, karaoke, she said, laughing.
I took leave earlier and have been accompanying my parents for shopping because my other siblings are still busy with their work, she added.
Although she is not a Christian anymore, Stacy believes that there should be no reason to separate herself from her family activities.
Christmas has always been a part of our family tradition because it is the time when everyone is on leave, and we can meet and share stories at our home.
Everyone in the family will be singers on Christmas day because we all love singing karaoke. Sometimes, I don’t even have the chance to sing because my sisters and brothers can sing for hours non-stop, she said cheerfully, adding that her fiance, Akim Ahmad, and his family will be coming to Sabah to celebrate Christmas with her family.
Stacy, who rose to fame after winning the sixth season of Malaysia’s number one reality show, Akademi Fantasia, took on the Muslim name of Ummu Shaikhah Stacy Anam upon converting in August. He wedding is expected next February.