Malaysian comedian Mohd Nadzri Zainal Abidin, widely known as Jep Sepahtu, has publicly expressed severe frustration over ongoing public references to their long-standing friendship by former groupmate Shuib. The 41-year-old entertainer hit back via an Instagram post on Thursday, accusing his former colleague of weaponizing sentimental ties for marketing purposes and persistently reviving old conflicts.
The latest public friction between the former members of the comedy group Sepah stems from comments made during recent podcast appearances. Jep stated that he is completely exhausted by the repeated airing of grievances and challenged Shuib directly over the nature of these ongoing remarks.
Teringat dulu kau pernah cakap ‘bad publicity is still publicity’. Hari ni aku nak ingatkan kau, yang aku sama seperti dulu tak hamak benda-benda publisiti ni. Sudah-sudah la main sentimen persahabatan untuk kau punya marketing. Game apa sebenarnya yang kau nak main ni? Ke kau tengah khayal?
Jep wrote in his social media update.
Jep Denies Claims About Unfair Group Payments
The public rebuke intensified when Jep addressed specific claims regarding group payments discussed during a podcast episode. In the post, Jep highlighted a video clip where Shuib and another former member, Mamat, sought the opinion of veteran comedian Azlee Senario regarding fair distribution of group earnings.
Although no names were explicitly mentioned in the podcast segment, viewers widely interpreted the remarks as a reference to Jep. In response, Jep maintained that their financial arrangements had always been handled individually rather than collectively.
Lagi satu Rahim ada tunjuk aku video podcast kau cakap pasal payment. Kita tak pernah deal payment untuk kumpulan. Dari dulu semuanya deal individu,
Jep noted, adding a challenge for Shuib to state names openly if formal legal action via a Letter of Demand (LOD) was warranted.
Beyond financial matters, Jep shared screenshots of private WhatsApp conversations spanning from 2022 to Aidilfitri in 2026, pointing out that his attempts to apologize and clear the air had been left completely unreplied. He criticized what he perceived as a performative display of friendship for public consumption.
Aku dah minta maaf walaupun macam-macam dah kau buat kat aku. Aku dah tersangat muak dengan isu ini. Aku tak kisah pun kau tak reply whatsApp aku tapi janganlah depan public kau wayang kononnya kaulah yang terpaling mulia dalam bersahabat,
he stated.
Jep Urges Shuib to Prioritize Personal Responsibilities
The core rift within the trio—comprising Jep, Shuib, and Mamat—dates back to 2014, when the members drifted apart following their rise to fame under the banner of Sepah. Tensions resurfaced recently as Shuib and Mamat began discussing the group’s origins on Dol’s Podcast, prompting Jep to previously counter that many recounted stories were embellished or fictionalized.
In his Thursday statement, Jep urged Shuib to direct his attention toward pressing personal responsibilities rather than continuous public commentary. He also emphasized his desire to move forward, requesting complete privacy to focus on raising his children and managing his family life.
Pesanan terakhir aku jangan ganggu aku yang tengah sibuk beri perhatian besarkan dua anak syurga aku. Kalau hidup kau tak tenang itu kau punya pasal. Jangan ganggu hidup orang lain. Jangan asyik burukkan orang untuk tutup pekong kau,
Jep concluded.
