In a clip that has gone viral, the Kelantanese told his wife, Maryam You Narae, that the top part of her dress looks like a TV mat from the 70s, the cloth she was wearing looked like an old, dirty rag on a washing machine, and she had coins dangling on her waist.
Indigenous folks from Borneo, especially those of Iban descent, were unhappy with his remarks and a police report was subsequently made against him.
Justice for our Iban friends
According to Bernama, the Dayak Traditional Arts and Culture Club (Kemada) has lodged a report at the Lanang Police Station against the Instagram celebrity for ridiculing the traditional dress of Iban women.
The police report was lodged by the chairman of the club, Jackery Hillary Chukan, who was accompanied by five other members, all of whom wore traditional Iban warrior's costumes.
Jackery said the report was made because Ryzal was being insensitive to their culture via his Instagram video.
"Such comments insult the traditional costumes of the Iban. We cannot accept his apology which was uploaded on his social media," he said.
Netizens voiced out their anger and disgust against the influencer on Twitter.
Rude gila. Iban people didn't make that beautiful piece of traditional clothing, for you to call it kain buruk. It's literally not that hard to respect each other's culture https://t.co/bzTUvtfHx9
— ?♀️ (@peaxhy_vibes06) May 26, 2021
So @duriankimchi @ryzalibrahim is that guy who thinks he’s funny because he can mock other culture and think he will get away by saying sorry afterwards. This is lame Ryzal. Even your wife feel uncomfortable with your remarks https://t.co/CIkkjbHIXm
— Raun (@raunmundok) May 26, 2021
Ryzal Ibrahim jokes about our traditional Iban attire is not something new in local entertainment industry ? low rate jokes disregarding sensitivity of others only to gain laughter has been normalized long ago ?? I expected nothing more though
— ??♀️ (@notjoecy) May 26, 2021
Watching Ryzal’s video triggered a part of my childhood of being called, “cawat, sumpit, orang hutan” and be told to “balik ah wei! Dudok atas pokok! Blah ah!”
— ZeeAvi♐ (@ZeeAvi) May 27, 2021
I’d just moved from Miri to a private school, mind you, in KL. I was 13 years old.
I find it's so sensitive for a "Public Figure" to make a joke about Iban Traditional Costume. This isnt funny at all. Ngepan Iban = Alas Meja, Kain Buruk?
— Brolin G (@brolingolayous) May 26, 2021
Ryzal Ibrahim who do you think you are? pic.twitter.com/RrOtCsFqSQ
Ryzal Ibrahim just awakened the wrath of the headhunters' descendants. Insulting the Ngepan will be his biggest nightmare.
— Joycee Phillipe (@JoyceePhillipe) May 26, 2021
Nobody in the Land of Hornbill will ever forget today.
P/s My kain buruk Pua Kumbu made by my late ini' Merirai has benang emas woven into it. #Iban
dear RYZAL GUY who insult our “traditional costume as “KAIN BURUK”. if you wanna know, 1set “NGEPAN IBAN” cost almost beribu i tell you ah & sangat valued sampai no one can buy with money. so don’t you dare cakap our traditional costume “KAIN BURUK”. the one “YANG BURUK” is you
— szabin (@di0rxbaby) May 26, 2021
ryzal aka duriankimchi husb is cancelled. why?
— syaaa ✨???? (@littlesmolpeaaa) May 26, 2021
1. What he said was v immature, insulting and disrespectful to one’s ethic culture/Sarawakians; Iban traditional costume by saying Kain Karap resembles to kain buruk, comparing Tango with Kain langsir, Gobeng belt w duit syilling. https://t.co/PUghmMctaD
Ryzal has since deleted the viral clip and issed an apology via his Instagram account. But the damage has been done.
Both Ryzal and Maryam gained popularity after he married the South Korean women and shared their intercultural relationship on social media.
We hope that no matter who you are be it influencer or not, you should be respectful to every culture we have in Malaysia.