Compiled by FARIK ZOLKEPLI, ALLISON LAI and R. ARAVINTHAN
THE production of the Thai historical drama The Empress of Ayodhaya faced backlash after a scene featuring a cat was filmed using a real feline that appeared to suffer distress.
The director admitted to sedating the cat but claimed it is now healthy, reported Oriental Daily.
However, the audience’s outrage persisted, leading to a decline in the show’s popularity.
The show’s production company issued an apology, stating that it prioritises animal health and safety.
They said the cat was from a professional animal modelling agency with over a decade of experience, and its welfare was monitored throughout filming.
Key cast members, including lead actress Mai Davika Hoorne, expressed their disapproval of animal mistreatment and sought clarification from the production team.
Actress Ferny Nopjira Lerkkajornnamkul also distanced herself from the situation, emphasising that she was not directly involved in handling the cat.
> The daily also reported that a nasi lemak restaurant in the Kuala Lumpur city centre, which charges patrons RM1 for sitting in an air-conditioned dining area, has sparked mixed reactions from diners and online users.
Despite the controversy, the authorities confirmed that the restaurant’s practices are compliant with regulations since the charge was indicated to customers.
The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry said there were no violations of any regulations, as the restaurant displayed notices at the entrance about the charge.
The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.
