Malaysia clarifies that it did not decree a holiday for the victory of Michelle Yeoh at the Oscars, after misinformation that went viral

() — Michelle Yeoh’s historic Oscar win caused jubilation this week in her native Malaysia, but also sparked false rumors that a national holiday had been declared, something the country’s government quickly denied.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Monday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s office debunked a doctored image that had been circulating on chat apps.

The image, dated March 13, 2023 and seen by , showed a doctored news article from Malaysian newspaper The Star, with the headline: “PM Anwar declares a public holiday this Wednesday: ‘This is the pride of a nation! “.

It seemed to reference an earlier statement by Anwar, congratulating Yeoh on his victory.

Claims of a public Oscar holiday are not true, the statement from Anwar’s office said. “The news is false,” he said. “The public is requested not to spread or share any untrue or false information.”

Star Media Group, which runs an online English-language news portal and publishes a daily newspaper, also said the image was a “misrepresentation of (its) actual news coverage.”

“It has come to the company’s attention that an image, depicting a doctored image that misuses The Star’s identity, is making the rounds on social media,” the group said in a statement.

“Star Media Group would like to reiterate that it has not released any news regarding the announcement of the March 15, 2023 holiday.

“The public is urged to double check the authenticity of the images circulating by visiting (our website) and reading our verified news, directly from the source.”

Michelle Yeoh’s victory at the Oscars

Yeoh, 60, this week became the first Asian woman to win the Academy Award for best actress in a leading role for her performance in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

Yeoh, who was born in the city of Ipoh in Peninsular Malaysia, began his career in a series of Hong Kong action films.

He rose to international fame after starring in the 1997 James Bond film “Tomorrow Never Dies” and the Oscar-winning “The Tiger and the Dragon,” directed by Ang Lee, in 2000.

His victory speech was screened live at an event in the capital Kuala Lumpur on Monday, attended by his 84-year-old mother Janet.

Pictures of the room erupting in applause went viral, and Yeoh also dedicated his Oscar moment to his mother.

“I’ll take this home with you,” Yeoh said in her acceptance speech. “She is watching right now in Malaysia, with my family and friends. I love you guys. I’m bringing this home to you,” he said.

His mother yelled “Malaysia boleh! (Malaysia can do it)” in a subsequent video chat with the triumphant daughter of hers.

“I am very happy… I am proud of my daughter. She is very hardworking,” her mother told local reporters. “I will call her to come home (to Malaysia) and celebrate very soon. Next month is my birthday.”

Also present was Yeoh’s niece Vicki, who called it “an amazing moment.”