Category Archive
The following is a list of all entries from the the star online category.
Triumph for Estranged
A great show, surprise winners, magic and lots more made the 22nd instalment of the Anugerah Juara Lagu memorable indeed.
It was a night full of surprises at TV3’s 22nd Anugerah Juara Lagu on Sunday. And the night undoubtedly belonged to the “underdog” finalist, four-piece outfit Estranged, which emerged champions taking home both the Song of the Year award and Best Pop-Rock song with Itu Kamu, taken from the band’s debut album In Hating Memory.
The AJL had been aptly themed “magic” and it was almost magical to see Estranged – comprising Azwin Andy Malik (drums), Solihuddin Hormat (guitars), Nor Hanafi Noor Hadi (guitars) and Rich (vocalist), – defeating bigger names in the industry such as Audi Mok, M. Nasir, Aidit Alfian, Hazami and Ajai.
Itu Kamu, a beautiful composition by Estranged and lyrics by Rich, seemed nowhere near in terms of popularity compared to other songs competing in the Pop-Rock Category, performed by the illustrious likes of Datuk Siti Nurhaliza, Misha Omar and Andy Flop Poppy, and Mawi.
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Champs: New band Estranged comprising (from left) Din, Andy, Hanafi and Rich surprised everyone by emerging tops in last Sunday’s Anugerah Juara Lagu. |
The odds were even higher when it came to competing against songs from the ballad and ethnic creative categories; but Itu Kamu emerge Song of the Year nonetheless.
When interviewed before the AJL, seasoned star and competition finalist Nora had said: “?. the night’s results depend entirely on the judges and what they are looking for? Some judges are looking for something new and different from what we already have in the market.”
Perhaps it was in Itu Kamu, that the judges found that something beautiful, something new and fresh. The judges were Fauzi Marzuki, Syafinaz Selamat, Helen Yap, Farihin Abdul Fatah, Amran Omar and Arab.
Apart from Estranged, Nora also had a victorious night. After being listed seven times in the finals of past AJL competitons, Nora’s Samudera (composed by husband Johan Nawawi and lyrics by Ahmad Fedtri Yahaya) won the best song in the Ethnic Creative Category. Nora took home RM12,000 and a trophy.
Samudera beat Aishah’s for Kasihnya Balqis and Ramlah Ram’s Dirgahayu.
In the Ballad Category, melodious Izinku Pergi (composed by Azlan Abu Hassan, lyrics by Sulu Sarawak and sung by Shahri) won top place and took home the trophy and RM12,000.
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Still the best: Jaclyn Victor and Lah Ahmad won for Best Vocal Performance. |
The song defeated strong contenders Fazli Zainal’s Harapan, Faizal Tahir’s Mahakarya Cinta, Faizal Tahir’s Kasih Tercipta and a duet by Lah Ahmad and Jaclyn Victor in Ceritera Cinta.
As expected Mawi, who sang Angan dan Sedar in the Pop-Rock Category bagged the best performance award. He received RM10,000 and a trophy for his entertaining show complete with a magic act and costume change! It was truly “hebat” (fantastic), as emcees Cheryl Samad and Farah Fauzana pointed out. Also on hosting duties that night were Ally Iskandar and Faizal Ismail.
The Best Vocal Performance award went to Jaclyn Victor and Lah Ahmad who received RM10,000 and a trophy for their powerful duet in Ceritera Cinta.
Audiences who had turned up at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil – which incidentally was packed to the brim – had the time of their lives; the night was filled with good music and top singers who went all out to show their vocal prowess and creativity.
During the two-and-a-half hour show, music lovers were treated to 14 songs. From rocking with Jinbara on Farhana (Puteri Bumi Kenyalang) to traditional influences on Aishah’s Kasihnya Balqis, Nora’s Samudera and Ramlah Ram’s Dirgahayu, it was a grand show complete with elaborate costumes and dancers, and there was definitely something for everyone.
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Energetic: Datuk Siti Nurhaliza performed Destinasi Cinta but failed to take home any awards. |
It was extra special to watch Fiq’s Mahakarya Cinta and Bob AF2’s Kasih Tercipta (who replaced Faizal Tahir), and Lah Ahmad and Jaclyn Victor’s Ceritera Cinta as these four held their audiences under their spell with superb performances.
And after all that is being said about the “sad, sorry state of our local music industry”, it was so nice to see so much talent on stage, and a fresh new band emerge the winner.
source: the star online
Google lists Malaysians’ most popular search terms for 2007.
Hit list
By WONG LI ZA
wongliza@thestar.com.my
MALAYSIANS were more interested in Datuk Siti Nurhaliza than Paris Hilton last year, according to Google’s Malaysia Year-end Zeitgeist 2007.
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Malaysia’s darling: Siti Nurhaliza was more popular than Paris Hilton (bottom, right) in searches for famous personalities last year. |
Hot off the stove, the Google Zeitgeist highlights the most popular and fastest-rising search terms that Malaysians typed into Google.com.my last year.
Released on Monday, it found that Siti Nurhaliza was more popular than Hilton in searches for famous personalities and that Genting Highlands and Langkawi topped the list for destination searches.
The Zeitgeist also showed strong growth in searches for social networks and video sites.
Originally a German expression that means “the spirit of the age or times”, Zeitgeist describes the intellectual and cultural climate of an era.
The survey is thus named because, according to Google, people use the search engine to look for new and interesting subjects. When that is viewed in volume, it tends to be a good reflection of what’s on everyone’s mind.
The Google Zeitgeist, which revealed that up to 25% of search queries received on any given day were new, is calculated by looking at the aggregate of the most popular and fastest-rising search queries typed into the google.com.my search box.
Results showed that the top 10 searches in 2007 were friendster, youtube, berita harian, myspace, harian metro, utusan malaysia, wikipedia, airasia, maybank2u and jobstreet.
On the other hand, the fastest-rising searches were youtube, facebook, firefly, esnips, mobik, veoh, transformers, friendster layout, heroes and tudou (largest video-sharing site in Mandarin).
Besides Siti Nurhaliza and Paris Hilton, Malaysians were also interested in celebrities like Britney Spears, Akon, Avril Lavigne and Megan Fox.
Other people that were most searched online were Paul Tan (a blogger who writes about cars and the automotive industry), Nurin Jazlin, Jeff Ooi and Altantuya.
Top destinations googled last year were Genting, Langkawi, Singapore, Penang, Bali, Cameron Highlands, Malacca, Port Dickson, Bukit Tinggi and Kuala Lumpur. (Looks like Malaysians really opted to “Cuti-cuti Malaysia”.)
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In terms of online entertainment activity, topping the list were friendster (social networking), youtube (video site), myspace (social networking), games (free online games), naruto (Japanese anime), metacafe (video site), facebook (social networking), imeem (music, photo, video site), photobucket (photo and video site) and lowyat (Malaysian tech enthusiasts’ resource community).
Football fans mostly sought out soccernet, epl, manchester united, arsenal, liverpool, chelsea, uefa, fantasy premier league, fantasy football and fam.
Top searches for movies, TV programmes or radio were gsc, tgv, transformers, heroes, radioblog, era, prison break, cineleisure, hitfm and high school musical.
For games, the hottest topics included miniclip, barbie, maplesea (cartoon games), pokemon, sudoku, gamespot 305 (source of games from playstation, xbox, wii, etc), runescape, utopia, ghost online and animax.
MP3 135, iphone and Nokia 6300 topped the list in terms of tech gadgets googled.
Finally, the Google Zeitgeist also showed that the majority of searches done in Malay were jawatan kosong, resepi, akademi fantasia, mat rempit, cuti-cuti malaysia, kamus, lagu, lirik, portal pendidikan and cerita.
source: the star online
Siti Nurhaliza marks birthday wearing scarf
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian pop diva Datuk Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin celebrated her 29th birthday with her husband at the Le Meridien poolside – wearing a headscarf.
She had promised to wear a headscarf after marrying businessman Datuk Khalid Mohamad Jiwa, 49, on Aug 21, 2006.
“For the time being, I am comfortable with my latest look. It would be all right if I change gradually, and not too drastically,” she said.
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As lovely as ever: Siti Nurhaliza with husband Khalid at the birthday party. |
“I hope this will not create a big issue. I always knew that one day I would be wearing the scarf. I am doing this sincerely without forcing myself. What I need is time.”
“I wish I could reach higher levels of achievement in my career and fulfil my plans for the year,” she said, adding that she hopes to have a baby to complete the family.
Siti Nurhaliza would be competing at the Anugerah Juara Lagu Ke-22 organised by TV3 on Jan 27.
source: the star online
Money to splash
The weddings of celebrities or high-profile individuals are among the most glamorous and elaborate around.
You can expect an extravagant affair, with anything from an exclusive venue to diamond-studded shoes. For them, money is no object.
A Bollywood fairytale in France
Estimated cost: US$78mil
Said to be one of the most expensive weddings the world has ever seen, the grand nuptials of Vanisha Mittal, 23, daughter of billionaire steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, to investment banker Amit Bhatia, 25, took place in June 2004 over a period of five days in some of France’s most famous settings.
Around 1,000 guests from all over the world received 20-page-thick, silver-encased invitation cards to the lavish event, which included feasts at the world’s best hotels, partying at fancy nightclubs, top-of-the-line Kristal champagne, exclusive performances by Bollywood heartthrob Shah Rukh Khan and pop kitten Kylie Minogue, and a splendid fairytale wedding at 17th century Vaux le Vicomte, described as the “finest chateau and garden” in France.
Apparently, it took Lakshmi Mittal over a year to get the requisite permission, as this was the first time the palace allowed a private function to be held there.
Double extravagance
Estimated cost: US$2.5mil
One wedding was not enough for model-actress Elizabeth Hurley, 41, and businessman Arun Nayar, 42, as they wed in two lavish ceremonies with festivities spanning eight days.
The first league of their marathon celebration was set in the medieval Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire, England attended by some 300 guests, before the couple flew off to Mumbai for the Indian leg of the festivities, held at Meherangarh Fort, a lavish 18th century palace in Rajasthan.
The groom trotted down the aisle on a horse amongst a backdrop of thousands of orchids and daffodils flown in from the Netherlands, dancing white horses and walkways lined with millions of red chillies. Female guests were dressed in pink saris while the men wore Kesariya safas, all of which were chosen from a shop opened by the wedding couple a few days before the event.
Malaysia’s ‘Wedding of the Year’
Estimated cost: RM12mil
The wedding of Malaysian pop darling Siti Nurhaliza, 27 and businessman Datuk Khalid Mohamad Jiwa, 47 – said to be Malaysia’s 2006 “Wedding of the Year” – was held in September 2006 at a lavish garden-themed reception.
The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre’s hall was spectacularly decked in fresh roses and white carnations while white drapes and green creepers adorned the ceiling.
Siti’s gowns included a RM50,000 Khoon Hooi cream Italian duchess silk gown studded with South Sea Pearls worth RM400,000, a diamond-studded Radzuan Radzwill songket kebaya paired with a RM2mil diamond-studded platinum tiara, a RM35,000 Michael Ong off-white and pink Christian Lacroix lace Swarovski-studded gown with a matching RM1.5mil pink sapphire ruby tiara, a Radzuan Radziwill traditional Malay attire encrusted with diamonds and Swarovski crystals, and custom gowns by Indonesian designers Natrah Hisham and Ana Avanti.
Most of the items were sponsored by various companies and individuals.
Simple yet costly
Estimated cost: RM3.5mil
The wedding of Datuk Roslan Hashim, 49, and Pahang royal Puteri Shahanaz Hazlin Hamdan, 24, took place with less fanfare at Dewan Jubli Perak Sultan Ahmad Shah, Kuantan, also in September 2006.
Gifts for the bride included RM444,444.44 in cash, RM22,222.22 in dowry, a BMW 320i worth RM250,000, a RM150,000 jewellery set, a 20-carat diamond ring worth RM20,000, a RM25,000 Rolex watch, and other designer items.
The bride reciprocated with 20 trays of gifts which include a Rolex watch worth RM84,000, a wedding ring and other designer items.
The couple filed for divorce a year later.
source: the star online
Love for Kuala Lipis
IT IS only a four-page black and white brochure but visitors to Kuala Lipis would surely appreciate the efforts that had gone into its production.
There is a brief history of the town, its attractions and maps in the brochure. It even identifies the best banana fritter.
We did not get our brochures from a Tourism Authority office, or a tour agency, but from a hawker at the Alamanda Food Court.
Vincent Chong knew immediately that we were new to Kuala Lipis, and gave us the brochures when we started asking him about the town.
He piqued our curiosity when he told us that the brochure was written and updated by a local dentist, Dr Chan Chun Keat. We called Dr Chan, and he met up with us.
The dentist was inspired to come up with a brochure on Kuala Lipis because “there is so much more to this town.”
Most visitors see only a one-street town with Straits Eclectic shophouses, like those found in small towns all over the Peninsular Malaysia.
This town though has an interesting history. It flourished during the gold prospecting heydays of the 1920s, when the British extended the railway line to Kuala Lipis from Gemas.
However, its promise as a gold mining town and trading centre did not materialise, and the town remains a quiet stop in Pahang.
It was nevertheless the Pahang state capital from 1898 to 1955.
Locals like to point to the zero milestone in town. They claim that it marks the centre point of Peninsular Malaysia.
These days, Kuala Lipis is most famous for being the birthplace of popular pop singer Datuk Siti Nurhaliza.
She built her family a house in Kuala Lipis that costs millions of Ringgit. There are signboards to lead diehard fans to her family home, and even parking spaces for tour buses.
Kuala Lipis is also the birthplace of deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
Dr Chan, however, was not born in Kuala Lipis. He did not even grow up here.
He is actually from Bidor, Perak, and only made Kuala Lipis his home 20 years ago. He is married with two children.
“I came to Kuala Lipis after graduating from University Malaya in 1987,” relates Dr Chan.
Since then, he has strove to contribute to the community in Kuala Lipis.
“It is my Christian faith that made me believe that we should help another human being as long as we are able to help,” says the lay leader of the Wesley Methodist Church in Kuala Lipis. He also preaches, sings and plays the piano in the church.
Apart from producing the brochures promoting Kuala Lipis, Dr Chan also holds photography exhibition in his home in Desa Perwira.
“It’s my way of touching base with the people,” says Dr Chan who enjoys sharing how photographs can transform the ordinary into extraordinary.
Dr Chan is also involved in other community projects such as |holding health talks for the older residents, and organising an annual piano recital for the children.
source: the star online
Datuk Siti gets tips from fans
AFTER more than a decade of involvement in the industry, songstress Datuk Siti Nurhaliza is happy that her fans still accept her the way she is.
“I’m very happy that my fans have been there with me, and given me encouragement and suggestions via my website, Sitizone.com.
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Crimes of fashion: Datuk Siti Nurhaliza’s outfit received coverage in M Star. |
“From the site, I have learned what they want to hear on my album and what (they think) I should do next in terms of my singing career.
“Some of them want me to release a new album as soon as possible. That’s how my latest album, Hadiah Daripada Hati, came about,” said Siti during the launch of the album recently.
Pop-driven Hadiah Daripada Hati comprises songs such as Ku Mahu (theme song from drama series Spa Q), Hati (theme song from 1957 – Hati Malaya) and Mulanya Cinta, which was composed by Dick Lee (from P.Ramlee the Musical).
Produced by her own label, Siti Nurhaliza Productions (SNP), Hadiah Daripada Hati is distributed by Suria Records.
On a related matter, columnist Kakak Tua expressed, in no uncertain terms, her disapproval of Siti’s choice of wardrobe for the album launch, lamenting that it was in poor taste.
source: the star online
Hui Yi meets her idol Siti
KUALA LUMPUR: It was an emotional meeting at the National Heart Institute (IJN) between heart-transplant girl Tee Hui Yi and pop queen Datuk Siti Nurhaliza.The teenager was so happy that she was speechless when she came face-to-face with her idol, who was teary-eyed and touched by the courage, strong spirit and determination showed by the 14-year-old patient.
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Dream come true: Siti talking with Hui Yi at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. With them are (from left) Hui Yi’s parents Tee and Dina Bato, and Chan. |
The girl, accompanied by parents Tee Ah Soon and Dina Bato Sam Bua, was initially shy and hid behind her mother.
Hui Yi only learned about the exciting news of meeting Siti early yesterday morning.
“Have you had your breakfast?” asked Siti, to break the ice.
Hui Yi merely giggled and nodded her head in reply.
After both warmed up to each other, Malaysia’s most famous celebrity invited Hui Yi to attend her concert when she is fully recovered.
The young fan, who was wearing a mask, quickly wrote down her contact number and passed it to the artiste, adding: “I hope you will continue singing.”
The two then took photographs together and gave each other a warm hug before Siti left the ward after their 10-minute meeting.
“I am praying for your speedy recovery and I hope to see you at my concert very soon,” she told Hui Yi.
Siti, who was accompanied by MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy and his wife, Datin Seri Ann Chan, presented the girl with an autographed copy of her latest album Pastikan before she left.
The Chans gave the teenager a stalk of purple orchid, a basket of fruits and a handbook on qi gong.
Outside the ward, Siti told reporters that she had wanted to meet Hui Yi after learning of the girl’s wish to see her.
She said Chan had called her husband, Datuk Seri Khalid Mohamad Jiwa, on Monday night to make the arrangements for the visit.
“I am happy to see Hui Yi making good progress. She is a very cheerful and strong girl,” added Siti, urging the public to pledge their organs for donations after their deaths.
“Do not hesitate as it could bring a new life for those in need,” she said.
Chan was also happy to learn about Hui Yi’s good progress, adding: “We hope to see her full recovery and be back to her normal life soon.”
Hui Yi had received a heart from a 15-year-old boy diagnosed to be brain dead on Oct 4 but soon after the operation her body started rejecting the new heart.
The next day, she got the heart of a 20-year-old mechanic who was declared brain dead after a road accident in Johor Baru.
Hui Yi is due to be discharged from the IJN in two weeks.
source: the star online
Siti’s debut in theatre
October 4th, 2007 By RUBIN KHOO
KUALA LUMPUR: She may have graced the stage of the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London but Datuk Siti Nurhaliza is just as excited at the prospect of making her theatre debut at the Istana Budaya in the soon to be staged P. Ramlee The Musical … The Life, The Love and The Inspiration.
The songstress said she was offered a part in the musical produced by Enfiniti Productions after attending a theatre workshop organised by the production company, which was also responsible for the phenomenal Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical (PGLM).
“I felt so proud when I saw PGL and when I attended the workshop later I was given the chance to experience what theatre was like,” she said..
Sitiwas offered the role of Azizah, the first love of the late P. Ramlee.
While many may not be familiar with Azizah and her relationship with the legendary singer, Siti believes she played an integral part in his life.
“She was his childhood friend and they grew up together but she was the daughter of a rich man who had forbidden their relationship,” she said. “It was then that he left his village.”
P. Ramlee subsequently composed a song in memory of his childhood sweetheart, simply entitled Azizah.
P. Ramlee The Musical … The Life, The Love and The Inspiration comes alive at the Instana Budaya from Oct 18 to Nov 3.
Tickets are priced at RM200, RM180, RM150, RM120, RM80, RM50 and RM30 and are available at 03-2091 1666 or online at www.ticket2u.biz. Mobile phone bookings are via java.ticket2u.biz with payment at Mobility One terminals at Petronas outlets.
source : The Star
Buka puasa feast for 8,000 poor
Tuesday October 2, 2007
Buka puasa feast for 8,000 poor
ABOUT 8,000 underprivileged people were treated to a buka puasa feast at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur last night, courtesy of the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.
The senior citizens and children, most of whom were from the Klang Valley, were joined by invited guests, including officials from several agencies such as Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), Rela, Alam Flora, non-governmental organisations and the private sector.
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Welcome: Shahrizat (in pink tudung), Chew (on Shahrizat’s right) and other officials greeting senior citizens during the Rahmat Ramadan (Ramadan Blessing) buka puasa feast. |
As soon as it was time to break fast, they tucked into food and drinks distributed by volunteers from the event sponsors who were manning the 45 food and beverage stalls on the field. Among the items handed out were packets of fried chicken, nasi minyak, mee hoon, satay, kuih-muih, fruit and various drinks
A total of 53 corporate bodies and private companies donated food and cash for the event.
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Pop icon: Siti Nurhaliza (right) was among the guests at the event. |
Among those who attended the Rahmat Ramadan (Ramadan Blessing) feast were Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and parliamentary secretary Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, DBKL secretary-general Datuk Salleh Yusup and Kuala Lumpur police chief DCP Zul Hasnan Najib Baharuddin.
Local singing sensation Datuk Siti Nurhaliza also attended the dinner.
Prior to the breaking of fast, the people were entertained with religious songs by Yassin, Bienda, Hakani and a nasyid group from the Brickfields police station.
source : the star online
Siti, Khalid mark first anniversary
Siti, Khalid mark first anniversary
25 August 2007
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(From left) Siti’s mother Siti Salmah Bachik, Siti’s father Tarudin Ismail, Khalid’s friend Datuk Abdul Jalil, Siti, Khalid and Khalid’s mother Siti Zainab Hanafi cutting a cake to celebrate Siti and Khalid’s first wedding anniversary during their celebration in Petaling Jaya Friday night. |
PETALING JAYA: Hundreds of friends and fans showed up yesterday at a hotel in Bandar Utama here to celebrate the first wedding anniversary of pop darling Datuk Siti Nurhaliza and her husband Datuk Mohd Khalid Jiwa.
Guests at the glitzy and glamorous evening included celebrity friends and members of the royalty.
In her speech, the celebrated pop sensation, clad in a retro light-blue gown, thanked the guests and said it had been a wonderful year and hoped for more good years to come.
The anniversary do featured performances by several local artistes as well as a number by Siti herself.
source: the star online
