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Bloggers and columnists have urged some celebrities to stop stoking tension over calls to boycott Malaysian tourism and products on social media in China following allegations of bungled search efforts for the missing MH370, reported the South China Morning Post (SCMP) today. Users of Sina Weibo, a popular Chinese microblogging website, also hit out against those who had launched attacks at Malaysian citizens, including Malaysian celebrities popular in China. Some mainland celebrities, many with millions of Weibo followers, are said to have played a part in encouraging the public to vent their anger at Malaysians. Slurs and insults have been left on the Sina Weibo pages of Chinese Malaysian singers, such as Fish Leong and Victor Wong.  “What are you hiding from us?” one blogger wrote on Leong’s page, in one of the milder comments on her page. Others left obscenities. One called Malaysians "inferior" and said they were "not welcome in China". Just months ago in October, Leong had received glowing coverage from the Chinese media and netizens after Chinese president Xi Jinping mentioned her name on a diplomatic visit to Kuala Lumpur partly to illustrate pop culture parallels between the two nations, said SCMP. Chen Kun, a mainland film star with 70 million Sina Weibo followers, had said he would boycott Malaysian products and tourism until Putrajaya “takes down their clown-like mask and tells the truth” about MH370. Famous TV show host Meng Fei expressed similar sentiments, reported SCMP. Pan Caifu, a well-known columnist and microblogger, however, said the attacks against Malaysians were “stupid” and urged public figures to stop adding fuel to the fire. “Celebrities were irresponsible for provoking anger," he said in a column published in the Beijing News. “Malaysia has always been China’s loyal friend, and the Malaysians have also criticised their government after the crisis," he said. Zhao Chu, a columnist with 10 million Sina Weibo followers, cited more constructive ways of venting anger, reported SCMP. “If you really care about the Chinese passengers on board, you should pressure the Chinese government into better coordinating with the Malaysians and make explicit demands." Zhao urged celebrities to refrain from “abusing their influence”. Malaysian officials have been criticised by Chinese media and citizens for giving confusing information on the search for MH370 and had also been accused of withholding information. Anguished families had accused Malaysian authorities of being "liars" and "murderers". Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had also blamed the Chinese print media for "stoking the anger" of the victims' families. Some Sina Weibo users have called for “rational patriotism”, where instead of blindly boycotting Malaysia and fanning hatred, they said people should focus on finding the truth for the sake of the passengers' families. Part of the social media debate also centred on how Chinese anger against Malaysia could be pushing the Southeast Asian ally closer towards the United States, said SCMP. Microbloggers cited a Twitter message posted by the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur, saying: “Not giving up. We're with you Malaysia." “Even if the US was only pretending to be friends (with Malaysia), I think it might be working,” one microblogger wrote. The massive hunt for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 began after it disappeared from civilian aviation radars on March 8. Mainland travel agencies have reported a sharp drop – some as much as 50% – in the number of Chinese visitors to Malaysia compared with the same period last year. – March 28, 2014. -TMI.
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