Malaysia probing video of influencers giving chicken bones as alms to homeless man

In a video widely circulated on social media, three boys in Malaysia can be seen giving food scraps, including leftover bones from their meal, to a homeless man.

Following a firestorm of complaints over it, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said on Aug 5 that it had initiated an investigation.

The MCMC added that it takes a serious view of the alleged actions to produce and disseminate content that exploits marginalised groups for cheap entertainment and to generate views.

“Disseminating content that degrades or insults individual dignity is not just unethical but also leads to the normalisation of inhumane culture in society,” it added.

The social media content regulator also reminded members of the public not to share similarly provocative content that could disrupt public order.

In the video in question, which went viral on Aug 4, three young male content creators can be seen claiming to “want to do a good deed” in a departure from their usual theme of completing quirky challenges – like swimming in the trunk of a truck, for instance – before the clip cuts to them eating fried chicken from a fast-food eatery.

Claiming it would be a waste to discard the chicken bones, the trio can be seen stuffing them into a pack of rice meant to be for “people in need”.

In the final part of the clip, they approach a homeless man sleeping outside another restaurant and give him the packet of rice with leftover bones. He is seen thanking them for the handout, although he is not recorded consuming it.

The man appears to have been approached in downtown Johor Bahru.

The video, which has since been taken down by its creators, incensed many online commenters, with many questioning the boys for creating content and chasing views at the expense of the man’s dignity.

“Before becoming an influencer, learn how to be human,” one wrote on video app Douyin, where the clip was first uploaded on Aug 3.

In a later video, the three content creators clarified that the man had agreed to “act out” receiving a pack of bones and rice for the camera.

Behind the scenes, they said, they had given him a fuller meal with two pieces of fried chicken, sharing a clip of the man receiving the said food items.

“Please give us a better chance to give back to society,” one of them said, directing their apology to all Malaysians while promising to “make more meaningful videos”.

The incident was widely discussed online by other content creators, even leading to some buying fast-food meals and handing them out.

Creativity may be limitless, but content creators should consider drawing a clear line where showing respect is concerned, said Malaysian Deputy Minister for Communications Teo Nie Ching.

She noted the video creators’ clarifications, but said the video still left many feeling uncomfortable by how it misled and dramatised, and offended viewers.

“Is this a good way of becoming popular? By stepping on someone else’s dignity?” she said on Facebook.

“I do not see the humour, but feel more disgusted by the distasteful actions and how it loses sight of the basic respect of another human, someone from a marginalised community.”

If found to have violated the Communications and Multimedia Act by sharing offensive content online, the video creators face fines of up to RM500,000 (S$151,700) and a two-year jail term.