Sharifah Sakinah Urges Health Influencers to Spread Awareness With Compassion
Actress Says Wellness Should Focus on Positivity Instead of Hatred
KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian actress Sharifah Sakinah has expressed disappointment over what she described as the increasingly harsh and confrontational approach used by fitness influencer Tareq Fit on social media.
According to the actress, she had initially followed the influencer because of her strong interest in fitness, wellness and healthy living, subjects she remains passionate about today.
However, Sakinah believes the content being shared recently has shifted away from education and motivation, becoming more focused on criticism and public attacks against other individuals.
She said the fitness industry should encourage healthier lifestyles, emotional balance and self-improvement rather than negativity and hostility.
“I truly enjoy the fitness and wellness industry, so it’s disappointing when the content starts focusing more on attacking people instead of educating or inspiring them,” she said.
The actress explained that real wellness involves more than physical appearance, adding that emotional wellbeing, mindset and communication are equally important.
“For me, wellness begins with the mind and emotions. The way we speak to people matters because words can influence others positively or negatively,” she added.
The actress made the remarks during a promotional event for the film Tarung: Unforgiven recently.
Sakinah also stressed that influencers with large online followings should be mindful of how they communicate messages to the public, especially younger audiences who may look up to them.
She believes awareness campaigns can still be effective without relying on anger, insults or aggressive delivery.
“When someone speaks with too much hatred or anger, the message can lose its positive value. Awareness should be delivered with wisdom and compassion,” she said.
Speaking further about the fitness industry, Sakinah admitted she has spent many years observing various realities within the field, including the widespread use of shortcuts such as steroids and extreme body transformation methods.
She revealed that she had personally experimented with different approaches in the past out of curiosity and a desire to understand the industry better.
Despite those experiences, the actress said she eventually realised that maintaining long-term health naturally is far more important than pursuing unrealistic standards quickly.
“I’ve explored many things over the years because I wanted to learn from experience. But in the end, I realised balance and natural wellbeing matter the most,” she explained.
Sakinah added that she now prefers to follow certified nutritionists and genuine wellness experts who sincerely aim to help people rather than focusing entirely on profit or online attention.
At the same time, she defended members of the entertainment industry who had reportedly become targets of criticism from the influencer.
According to her, fitness and art share similarities because both require discipline, creativity and meaningful communication.
“Fitness is also a form of art. The way instructors guide people, motivate them and communicate during training sessions all require sensitivity and skill,” she said.
Although she disagrees with the influencer’s recent methods, Sakinah stressed that she still respects him as a person and believes he may genuinely want to raise public awareness.
Nevertheless, she hopes future messages can be delivered in a calmer and more compassionate manner.
“We shouldn’t respond with hatred or attacks. It’s better for us to pray for good things and encourage positivity so everyone can improve together,” she said.
-wilayah.com.my
