Thousands rushed to leave Malaysia before its travel curbs kicked in on March 18. Many celebrities were either caught in the rush or had their lives affected by the lockdown, which has since been extended to April 14. Here is a look at how 10 celebrities reacted to the lockdown.
RAPPER NAMEWEE RETURNS TO DESERTED AIRPORT
Malaysian rapper Namewee was working on his music and a new movie in Taiwan when he first got wind of the lockdown. The 36-year-old still had business to settle in Taiwan and went back to Malaysia only on March 21. He announced his return on Instagram with a selfie featuring a deserted Kuala Lumpur International Airport in the background. The same day, the singer released the music video for his latest song Getaway To Kaohsiung, a project supported by Taiwans Kaohsiung City Government to promote tourism.
2 NO PLANE TICKETS HOME FOR MARK LEE
Veteran Singaporean television host Mark Lee was into the third day of his Ipoh family getaway when Malaysia announced its lockdown on March 16. Afraid that he would not be able to return to Singapore, Lee shared in an Instagram post that he had tried to get his hands on return plane tickets online, but to no avail. Thankfully, a friend was able to arrange for the family to return home by car. They left Ipoh on March 16 and arrived in Singapore that night. Although his three children were reluctant to leave, Lee said the situation could not be helped. He ended his post on a more cheery note, writing, “We will be back!”, and accompanying his caption with photos of some of the trips highlights.
3 NICHOLAS TEO ENJOYING HOME-COOKED MEALS
Malaysian singer Nicholas Teo has been taking it slow for the past few years. He took time off to take acting classes in New York a few years ago and is now based back home in Malaysia instead of Taiwan. He said he and his family are fine despite the lockdown, Apple Daily reported. The 38-year-old said: “I often call my parents in Kuching to remind them not to go out unless its absolutely necessary, and Ive also been mostly staying indoors and eating home-cooked meals myself.”
4 GUIDE TO BUYING VEGETABLES
To curb the spread of the coronavirus, Malaysia on March 21 mandated that only the head of the household or one representative of a family is allowed to go out to buy necessities. But men new to grocery shopping need not fret, as Malaysian television personality Cheryl Leehas come to the rescue. The 35-year-old has shared on Facebook a list of vegetable names in Cantonese such as gai choy (Chinese mustard). She suggested printing out her Facebook post featuring a list of vegetable varieties, complete with their names and pictures.
5 RUSH TO REPORT TO KUALA LUMPUR FOR WORK
Even as Malaysians working in Singapore rushed to cross the Causeway, Singaporean actor Akif Halqi was scrambling to get to Malaysia before it shut its doors. The actor was originally scheduled to head to Kuala Lumpur on March 20 to work on a Malaysian movie, but was told by his director to bring the trip forward immediately. The 24-year-old was initially plagued with fear and anxiety. “I started thinking that if I were to contract the virus in Malaysia, Id want to seek treatment in Singapore but that wouldnt be possible,” the actor told Today. However, he later learnt that his fear was unfounded as he would still be allowed to return home during the lockdown. His parents had prepared an ample supply of masks and hand sanitisers for him for his Malaysian trip.
6 STUCK IN EIGHT-HOUR JAM
Star Search 2019 winner Zhang Ze Tongs (top) latest travelogue Aus-some Getaway followed the actor as he went on a fun Australian vacation. However, Zhang, 26, faced some real travel trouble in trying to beat the lockdown in Malaysia. The Singapore-based Malaysian, who was in Johor Baru visiting his parents a day before the travel restriction kicked in, was stuck in an eight-hour traffic jam on his way back to Singapore. But he told Lianhe Wanbao he was fortunate enough to have the company of friends during the journey.
7 JOEY YUNG PERFORMS FOR FANS ONLINE
Hong Kong singer-actress Joey Yung is not letting the lockdown come between her and her Malaysian fans. After returning from her March 13 concert in London, the 39-year-old pop star had postponed her March 21 concert at the Arena of Stars in Malaysias Genting Highlands to observe self-quarantine in Hong Kong. Nevertheless, she still treated fans to a live performance, albeit one that was streamed online for 11/2 hours via her official Instagram account. During the live session, Yung also chatted online with her good friends, actress CharlenRead More – Source
Thousands rushed to leave Malaysia before its travel curbs kicked in on March 18. Many celebrities were either caught in the rush or had their lives affected by the lockdown, which has since been extended to April 14. Here is a look at how 10 celebrities reacted to the lockdown.
RAPPER NAMEWEE RETURNS TO DESERTED AIRPORT
Malaysian rapper Namewee was working on his music and a new movie in Taiwan when he first got wind of the lockdown. The 36-year-old still had business to settle in Taiwan and went back to Malaysia only on March 21. He announced his return on Instagram with a selfie featuring a deserted Kuala Lumpur International Airport in the background. The same day, the singer released the music video for his latest song Getaway To Kaohsiung, a project supported by Taiwans Kaohsiung City Government to promote tourism.
2 NO PLANE TICKETS HOME FOR MARK LEE
Veteran Singaporean television host Mark Lee was into the third day of his Ipoh family getaway when Malaysia announced its lockdown on March 16. Afraid that he would not be able to return to Singapore, Lee shared in an Instagram post that he had tried to get his hands on return plane tickets online, but to no avail. Thankfully, a friend was able to arrange for the family to return home by car. They left Ipoh on March 16 and arrived in Singapore that night. Although his three children were reluctant to leave, Lee said the situation could not be helped. He ended his post on a more cheery note, writing, “We will be back!”, and accompanying his caption with photos of some of the trips highlights.
3 NICHOLAS TEO ENJOYING HOME-COOKED MEALS
Malaysian singer Nicholas Teo has been taking it slow for the past few years. He took time off to take acting classes in New York a few years ago and is now based back home in Malaysia instead of Taiwan. He said he and his family are fine despite the lockdown, Apple Daily reported. The 38-year-old said: “I often call my parents in Kuching to remind them not to go out unless its absolutely necessary, and Ive also been mostly staying indoors and eating home-cooked meals myself.”
4 GUIDE TO BUYING VEGETABLES
To curb the spread of the coronavirus, Malaysia on March 21 mandated that only the head of the household or one representative of a family is allowed to go out to buy necessities. But men new to grocery shopping need not fret, as Malaysian television personality Cheryl Leehas come to the rescue. The 35-year-old has shared on Facebook a list of vegetable names in Cantonese such as gai choy (Chinese mustard). She suggested printing out her Facebook post featuring a list of vegetable varieties, complete with their names and pictures.
5 RUSH TO REPORT TO KUALA LUMPUR FOR WORK
Even as Malaysians working in Singapore rushed to cross the Causeway, Singaporean actor Akif Halqi was scrambling to get to Malaysia before it shut its doors. The actor was originally scheduled to head to Kuala Lumpur on March 20 to work on a Malaysian movie, but was told by his director to bring the trip forward immediately. The 24-year-old was initially plagued with fear and anxiety. “I started thinking that if I were to contract the virus in Malaysia, Id want to seek treatment in Singapore but that wouldnt be possible,” the actor told Today. However, he later learnt that his fear was unfounded as he would still be allowed to return home during the lockdown. His parents had prepared an ample supply of masks and hand sanitisers for him for his Malaysian trip.
6 STUCK IN EIGHT-HOUR JAM
Star Search 2019 winner Zhang Ze Tongs (top) latest travelogue Aus-some Getaway followed the actor as he went on a fun Australian vacation. However, Zhang, 26, faced some real travel trouble in trying to beat the lockdown in Malaysia. The Singapore-based Malaysian, who was in Johor Baru visiting his parents a day before the travel restriction kicked in, was stuck in an eight-hour traffic jam on his way back to Singapore. But he told Lianhe Wanbao he was fortunate enough to have the company of friends during the journey.
7 JOEY YUNG PERFORMS FOR FANS ONLINE
Hong Kong singer-actress Joey Yung is not letting the lockdown come between her and her Malaysian fans. After returning from her March 13 concert in London, the 39-year-old pop star had postponed her March 21 concert at the Arena of Stars in Malaysias Genting Highlands to observe self-quarantine in Hong Kong. Nevertheless, she still treated fans to a live performance, albeit one that was streamed online for 11/2 hours via her official Instagram account. During the live session, Yung also chatted online with her good friends, actress CharlenRead More – Source
