Hong Kong CNN —A comedian in New York who joked about the safety of Malaysian planes in an apparent reference to the disappearance of flight MH370 has sparked a heated backlash in Malaysia and Singapore. Controversy over the joke by lawyer-turned comedian Jocelyn Chia at Manhattan’s Comedy Cellar erupted soon after a short clip of her stand-up performance was posted online earlier this week. Chia’s bit had centered on the uneasy past between Singapore and Malaysia, which were once part of the same country. An air safety expert did not exclude it could be a part of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. “(Chia) does not in any way reflect our views,” he added.

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Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, MH370, Jocelyn Chia, Andre de la, Yannick Pitonyaninick Piton, –, Muhamad Akmal Saleh, ”, Chia, Gopala Menon, Menon, “, Vivian Balakrishnan, Chia “, Dr Zambry Abd Kadir Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Malaysian, Malaysia Airlines, ” Police, Getty, United Malays National Organization, Singapore’s, Bernama, CNN, Facebook Locations: Hong Kong, New York, Malaysia, Singapore, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, La, AFP