KUALA LUMPUR: When in Malaysia, please mask up, regardless of rules elsewhere, says Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

       He made clear the need to adhere to rules following the incident of a Caucasian woman who refused to wear a mask to enter a luxury retail outlet at a famous shopping mall.

       “When in Rome do as the Romans do. When in Malaysia, please mask up. Regardless of the rules elsewhere. @KKMPutrajaya is getting more information from KLCC,” he tweeted while tagging the Health Ministry.

       An uproar erupted at the shopping centre when a customer without a mask threw a tantrum and insisted on being allowed into a luxury brand boutique.

       The incident was captured in a video by Twitter user @DFEfiercefun. Part of his comment said: “No entry for no mask!!! The lady resisted and said those with masks are communists!!”

       In the video, a Caucasian woman without a mask was seen complaining to the shopping centre staff that the boutique worker had put his hands on her to prevent her from entering, which was denied by the employee concerned.

       It immediately went viral with Karen being one of the top three trending topics on social media yesterday.

       Karen is the generic name used for self-entitled white women.

       The tweet, which registered at 11.5k likes at press time garnered responses from netizens who were angry that the woman was not wearing a mask, as well as praising the shopping centre and staff for maintaining strict standard operating procedures.