A Malaysian humanitarian activist has addressed criticism over her use of the latest iPhone 17 model at a recent awards ceremony, clarifying that the device was a gift and not purchased with her own money.

The actions have sparked a contentious online discussion over the device, with the humanitarian claiming it was a gift and not purchased with her own money.

Nur Hazwani Afiqah Helmi, a 28-year-old performer popularly known as Beatboxer Muslimah, came under intense online scrutiny after footage showed her using an iPhone 17 to film content at the 37th Anugerah Bintang Popular (ABP37) awards ceremony.

The backlash was driven by critics who questioned why someone associated with the Global Sumud Flotilla humanitarian movement would be seen using a product from a company accused by activists of having links to Israel.

Explanations on iPhone Choice

She defended her choice by highlighting the technical requirements of her work and noting that her editing and self-produced video content heavily depend on the phone’s large storage capacity.

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“I edit all my videos myself, so it makes it easier to upload content and do editing work,” she stated, adding that she would gladly switch to a local brand if one offered comparable software and performance.

She further noted that if local products offered comparable software, she would not hesitate to choose a local brand over the iPhone.

Nur Hazwani Afiqah stands

Nur Hazwani Afiqah, who is also a singer-songwriter, TV personality and model, said the issue of funding Israel is not limited to a single brand, but also involves other platforms and operating systems.

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“What I want to share is that the Android system is also among the major contributors, estimated at around 70 percent. This matter cannot be concluded hastily and requires more comprehensive discussion, as it is beyond my area of expertise.

Nur Hazwani Afiqah also faced criticism for an impromptu performance on livestream, which was intended to address the initial backlash, although viewers deemed it insensitive as it appeared to disregard concerns about her iPhone use.

Nur Hazwani Afiqah has since acknowledged her mistake and apologized, explaining that she was playing a character called Fazanawi, which was intended to poke fun at Unit 8200, an elite intelligence unit of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

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Malaysian Palestine Activist Sported with an Apple iPhone 17 . PHOTO/Courtesy