GEMAS, March 1 (Bernama) — Singer Datuk Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin has urged voters to think what is best for them and future generations comes polling day on March 8.

She also said: “Make the best decision based on what the government has given so that we can live comfortably and peacefully.”

She said this when persuaded by Taman Gemas Indah residents to make a speech when she came to watch Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Gemas state seat Zainab Nasir conduct her campaign here today.

She and her businessman husband Datuk Khalid Mohd Jiwa were invited to the campaign by their personal friend Deputy Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor who is defending the Tampin parliamentary seat.

Her presence drew thousands of people including women and children of all ages and races to a small stall in Taman Gemas Indah.

The crowd jostled to shake hands with the artiste but Umno Youth members managed to maintain order by acting as security guards.

Siti Nurhaliza told reporters that it was a new experience for her.

She said that previously, such a big crowd happened only during concerts and she had never seen a similar situation in a political campaign.

She admitted that she got fired up seeing people gathering in political speeches but stressed that she did not intend to venture into politics.

source: BERNAMA

REMBAU: “Pilih dengan bijak,” demikian nasihat penyanyi nombor satu negara, Datuk Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin kepada 10.9 juta pengundi yang akan mengundi di seluruh negara Sabtu depan.

Siti yang ditemani suami, Datuk Seri Khalid Mohd Jiwa yang lebih dikenali dengan panggilan “Datuk K” berkata mengundi adalah tanggungjawab setiap rakyat dalam menentukan masa depan negara, maju ke hadapan atau sebaliknya.

“Pada 8 Mac ini, mari kita keluar beramai-ramai mengundi. Undian kita amat bermakna kepada negara, pilih (calon) yang terbaik demi masa depan kita dan masa depan generasi akan datang,” katanya kepada Bernama di Karnival Keluarga Bahagia anjuran Yayasan Budi Penyayang (Penyayang) di Dataran Rembau di sini hari ini.

Turut hadir ialah Pengerusi Penyayang, Nori Abdullah, yang juga isteri Naib Ketua Pemuda Umno dan calon Barisan Nasional (BN) bagi kerusi Parlimen Rembau, Khairy Jamaluddin.

Tanpa menyatakan sokongan kepada mana-mana pihak, Siti yang tampak ringkas mengenakan tudung biru, blouse putih dan seluar jeans berkata pengundi perlu menilai calon dengan teliti dan memilih pemimpin yang terbaik.

Siti membuat penampilan khas pada karnival yang bertujuan memupuk hubungan erat antara anggota keluarga melalui penyertaan pelbagai aktiviti pada 12 tengah hari sebelum mengadakan sesi menandatangani autograf buat peminatnya, selama lebih 40 minit, di sebelah kanan pentas utama di Dataran Rembau.

Dalam sesi itu, Siti menurunkan autografnya di atas penanda buku “Keluarga Bahagia: Nadi Kesejahteraan Negara” yang juga memaparkan gambar Khairy dan Nori serta anak lelaki pasangan itu, Jibreil Ali Jamaluddin Abu Bakar, 5 bulan.

Semalam, penyanyi nombor satu negara itu turut menemani suaminya yang memberikan sokongan kepada calon BN bagi kerusi Parlimen Tampin Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor di Taman Gemas Indah, Gemas.

Khalid berkata beliau dan isterinya akan turun ke beberapa negeri, termasuk Pahang, Negeri Sembilan dan Perak bagi memberikan sokongan moral kepada beberapa kenalan mereka yang menjadi calon termasuk Khairy.

“Saya percaya Shaziman dan Khairy akan mendapat sokongan pengundi.Saya seru pengundi membuat pilihan dengan bijak dan hati-hati… Jangan perjudi masa depan negara,” katanya yang akan mengundi di kawasan Parlimen Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur.

Kerusi Parlimen Rembau yang mempunyai 62,896 pengundi, menyaksikan pertandingan satu lawan satu di antara Khairy, 32, dengan anggota majlis tertinggi Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Badrul Hisham Shaharin, 30.

sumber: Bernama

Siti (left) said the honour would encourage her and her husband (right) to develop their careers and be more successful in life. — PHOTO: SAODAH ISMAIL

SERI PEKAN (Malaysia) - SONGBIRD Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin is now a ‘Datin Seri’ after her husband, Datuk Khalid Mohamad Jiwa, was conferred with the first-class ‘Sri Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang’ award, which carries the ‘Datuk Seri’ title. Khalid, better known as Datuk K, was among 109 recipients of Pahang state awards and medals at the investiture on the occasion of Sultan Ahmad Shah’s 77th birthday on Oct 24 at Istana Abu Bakar here.

When met after the ceremony, Siti Nurhaliza who wore orange Kebaya, said she would feel more comfortable being called only Siti.

‘Other than in protocol events, for acquaintances, Siti would accept anything they are comfortable with,’ she said and expressed her gratefulness and was elated with the conferment on her husband.

She said the honour would encourage her and her husband to develop their careers and be more successful in life.

Siti Nurhaliza is a ‘Datuk’ after receiving the ‘Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang’ award from Sultan Ahmad Shah last year. — BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 (Bernama) — Heart transplant patient Tee Hui Yi, 14, seems to be more at ease and able to communicate comfortably since she was taken off the ventilator this morning.

National Heart Institute (IJN) Heart and Lung Transplant Unit Clinical Director Dr Mohamed Ezani Md Taib said the ventilator was removed since Hui Yi was now in stable condition and she was able to breathe well without the machine.

“Probably, in three or four weeks, Hui Yi, who is still in the Intensive Care Unit, can be transferred to the normal ward,” he told reporters at IJN today.

However, he said, proper care would be taken to prevent Hui Yi from any infection which might affect her health.

Dr Ezani said Hui Yi, who is now able to consume soup and porridge, would still be fed with supplementary nutrition through the tube in her nose.

“She requires 1,400 calories and supplementary nutrition for energy to strengthen her muscles and will continue with the weekly biopsy procedures to ensure her body does not reject the new heart,” he added.

Meanwhile, Hui Yi, who looks jovial, responded to questions from reporters and said she was eager to go home and return to school to continue with her studies.

“I can’t wait to go home and make preparation for the coming Chinese New Year celebration. I also want to thank my heart donor and can’t wait to meet the (donor’s) family,” she added.

Hui Yi, who underwent a second heart transplant on Oct 5, after her body rejected the first heart transplanted in her on Oct 3, also hoped to meet her favourite singers Datuk Siti Nurhaliza and Lotter of AF4.

– BERNAMA

Information Department Holds Patriotism Exhibition

Photographs of all the Yang di-Pertuan Agong since independence are on display at the “50 Years of Scaling to the Golden Summit” three-day exhibition organised by the Information Department at the Central Market.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 (Bernama) — The Information Department will hold a three-day exhibition themed “50 Years of Scaling to the Golden Summit” beginning tomorrow at the Pasar Seni (Central Market) here.

A statement from the department said the exhibition, from 10am to 10pm, was to enable the people to appreciate the country’s development in various fields since independence.

“It is also to enable the public to know about the struggles and contributions of past leaders such as Datuk Onn Jaafar, Tan Sri Aishah Ghani, Tun Ghafar Baba, Tun Tan Siew Sin, Tun Temenggung Jugah and Tun V.T. Sambanthan.” it added.

The achievements of various individuals like the late Mohktar Dahari (football), Misbun Sidek (badminton), Nicol David (Squash), Datuk Azhar Mansor (sailing), the late Sudirman Arshad and Datuk Siti Nurhaliza (entertainment), Arena Wati, Datuk A. Samad Said and Zurinah Hassan (Malay literature) and top 2004 SPM candidate Nur Amalina Che Bakri (education) are also featured in the exhibition.

Also displayed are photographs of all the Yang di-Pertuan Agong since independence.

The side events include a karaoke competition, stage performances and quizzes.

– BERNAMA

PM To Officiate At Climax Of ‘Gegar U’ In Penang

PENANG, Aug 14 (Bernama) — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is expected to officiate at the climax of the “Gegar U” (Rumble U) programme this Saturday at the Penang International Sports Arena.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said 14 public higher learning institutions took part in the programme held at five locations since May, organised by Yayasan Budi Penyayang and the Higher Education Ministry, in conjunction with Malaysia’s 50th independence celebrations.

He said several activities, including a photography competition depicting unity, a unity exhibition, and music and message writing competitions, would be held at the coming three-day event beginning on Saturday.

“Some 5,000 students are involved in collecting unity messages to be handed over to the Prime Minister on the night of Aug 18. We target to collect one million messages,” Koh added at a press conference here today.

“The winner of the message writing competition will receive a Naza Sutera car.”

Koh said a concert would also be held on the same night with artistes like Datuk Siti Nurhaliza, Def Gab C and Aznil Nawawi performing.

Meanwhile, at another function, state Traffic Management, Information and Community Relations Committee chairman, Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid Abdullah would launch the state-level Merdeka Month celebrations and “Fly the Jalur Gemilang” campaign at the Queensbay Mall in Bayan Lepas this Friday.

He said to add merriment to the month-long celebrations, various events were being organised, including the Rukun Tetangga-level Jalur Gemilang decoration contest and the Merdeka Quiz by the Mutiara FM radio channel.

The state government had also printed 50,000 Jalur Gemilang vehicle stickers which would be distributed to the public from this Friday, he added.

– BERNAMA