Social media personality Syed Abdullah, the elder brother of Muar Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq, has weighed in on the viral controversy surrounding the family of singer Aliff Aziz. Abdullah, popularly known as “Space Dollah,” suggested that the decision by Aliff’s family to obscure the face of his future sister-in-law, Bella Astillah, in a home portrait was a calculated promotional tactic. He claimed the act was likely a deliberate move rather than an accidental oversight, serving as a mechanical necessity to keep the family in the public eye.
In a series of posts on the Threads platform, Abdullah noted that “no publicity is bad publicity,” pointing out that the blurred photo has successfully dominated online conversations. He remarked that while he does not know Aliff’s family personally, the strategy appeared to be a form of “direct marketing” designed to trigger mass sharing and engagement. “Everyone is talking about it and sharing that photo,” he observed, advising his followers to remain cautious of such overt social media strategies.
The controversy erupted after Aliff’s mother, Siti Hafizah Sheikh Mohamad, posted a video from her residence in Singapore. Sharp-eyed netizens noticed that a large family portrait hanging on the wall featured a blurred-out image of Bella Astillah, Aliff’s former wife. The video, which originally intended to review various festive snacks for the upcoming Hari Raya, quickly became a focal point for angry fans who slammed the gesture as “toxic” and disrespectful toward the mother of Aliff’s children.
When asked by netizens to comment on the “toxic” labels being aimed at Aliff’s mother, Abdullah declined to speculate, stating he could not judge someone he had never met. However, he was quick to defend Bella, noting that his own family holds her in high regard. “I don’t dare say anything about his mother because I don’t know her. But I do know Bella, and our family loves her,” he clarified, highlighting the stark contrast in how the two families view the actress.
The timing of the portrait drama is particularly sensitive, following Bella’s high-profile engagement to Syed Saddiq on 28 March 2026. Bella and Aliff Aziz were previously married in September 2016 but finalised their divorce in June 2024 after a tumultuous relationship marked by repeated allegations of infidelity. Despite the lingering tension with her former in-laws, Bella appears to have found a new support system within the Syed family as she prepares for her upcoming nuptials with the former minister.
