Chris Brown Was 'Embarrassed' To Be In Public After Rihanna Assault

In a sit-down interview before a live audience on BET's "106 & Park," Chris Brown admitted he watched Rihanna's "20/20" interview with Diane Sawyer.

"I respect her decisions and whatever she wants to say," he said. "I personally want to keep things private, but at the end of the day, it's her decision."

Throughout the sit-down, which was recorded earlier this week and aired Thursday (November 12), Brown continued to apologize for assaulting Rihanna. The singer has revealed more of his emotions in each interview. He first broke his silence with Larry King, then Hot 97's Angie Martinez, and last week with MTV News correspondent Sway during "Chris Brown: The Interview."



During the BET interview, Brown also discussed the isolation he feels in the aftermath of the February incident.

"I'm working on it," Brown explained. "I'm really going through it. It's not just the physical labor [aspect of my punishment]; it's the mental labor. It's things that a 19-year-old or a 20-year-old has to deal with. It's not just the room saying, 'We don't like you'; it's the world. It kind of messes with a real person. I'm a real guy. I'm not a mannequin or a robot. I'm a real dude, so that hurts."

Brown said being judged by the court of public opinion is the worst of his punishments.

When he initially appeared in public following his attack on Rihanna, Brown said he wanted to wear glasses and hide. "I didn't want people to really see me," he said. "I was nervous and embarrassed — just really standoffish."

Brown was asked to respond to a comment Rihanna made during her Sawyer interview when the "Umbrella" singer said she wanted her ex-boyfriend to not feel sorry for himself. He admitted his grief but said it's part of his rehabilitation process.

"I don't think I would be human if I didn't feel sorry for myself," Brown said. "I do feel like it was a mistake I made, and I'm embarrassed with a mistake I made. It's something I have to live with, but it's something that I'm gonna change."

Go here for domestic-violence resources, or check out Think MTV for a video handbook on spotting the warning signs of abuse.

INSIDE STORY: Randy Quaid's Journey from Actor to Alleged Felon

A towering Texan with an easy smile and some 68 movies under his belt, Randy Quaid has been known over the years as an affable character actor. On the Austin, Texas, set of his most recent film, Balls Out: The Gary Houseman Story, Quaid charmed his castmates.

"He's a really nice guy and insanely funny," says actor Allen Evangelista, who recalls how Quaid spent his downtime tossing tennis balls to his costars. "Everyone was just trying not to laugh when he would improvise. He's really down to earth … just a cool guy to work with."

That image is a far cry from what the actor – who even brought charm to the National Lampoon's Vacation series' repulsive character, Cousin Eddie – is known for these days. Quaid, 58, and his wife Evi, 45, were arrested in Marfa, Texas, on Sept. 24 for allegedly running out on a $10,000 hotel bill at the exclusive San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, Calif., last June.

CHESTNUT HILL — Chef Susie Fishbein, author of the "Kosher By Design" cookbook series, will appear Monday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. at the Chabad of Chestnut Hill. The evening will

feature an interactive

cooking demonstration, tips on kosher food preparation, tastings of her latest recipes and a book-signing session. The Kosher By Design cookbook series will be available for purchase. Reservations required. Visit www.chabadch.com/kosher bydesign or call 617-738-9770.

Nicole Richie, Joel Madden show off babyStory Highlights

(People.com) -- Six weeks after welcoming their first son, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden -- along with their 21-month-old daughter Harlow -- are showing off the latest addition to their family, Sparrow James Midnight Madden.


Nicole Richie and Joel Madden became parents to their first son, Sparrow, six weeks ago.

"I couldn't be happier," Richie told PEOPLE. "The only thing you want is for your kids to be healthy and happy, and they are. I'm right where I belong."

In an interview at their home in Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles, Richie, 28, and Madden, 30, her boyfriend and front man of the band Good Charlotte, said they are deprived of sleep, but grateful their daughter Harlow is now fawning over a baby brother.

PEOPLE.com: Tweet, Tweet: A clue to how Sparrow got his name

"I'm glad I had a girl before I had a boy," said Richie. "She just loves him so much." Adds the children's proud papa, "She's very gentle with him."

PEOPLE.com: Lionel Richie: 'Sparrow looks just like Harlow'

For much more on Richie and Madden's expanding family -- including the decision to name their baby boy Sparrow, how Richie's second pregnancy was different from her first, and how she's losing her baby weight -- pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.
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seifuku4ever posted a photo: Sharon Stone, née Sharon Vonne Stone le 10 mars 1958 à Meadville en Pennsylvanie, aux États-Unis est une actrice, productrice, réalisatrice et scénariste américaine. Après des débuts dans le mannequinat, elle débute sa carrière de comédienne dans les années 1980. Le succès arrive seulement douze ans plus tard quand elle interprète Catherine Tramell dans Basic Instinct (1992). Ce succès lui ouvre les portes du cinéma ; dès 1995, Casino lui vaut un Golden Globe et une nomination aux oscars. Ses autres succès incluent Total Recall, Sliver ainsi que Mort ou vif. En dépit de quelques déboires, notamment un Razzie Award dont elle a bénéficié, elle reste un sex symbol d’Hollywood[1]. À ce titre, elle possède son étoile à la hauteur du 6925 Hollywood Boulevard sur le Walk of Fame. Très engagée pour les causes humanitaires, elle est l’ambassadrice de l’American Foundation for AIDS Research (Amfar), une association de lutte contre le SIDA. Mère de trois enfants, Roan, Laird et Quinn, elle vit dans les collines de Los Angeles.

Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsorth Continue to Act All Couple-ish

Looks like the relationship between Miley Cyrus and her The Last Song co-star Liam Hemsworth didn't end when the cameras stopped rolling.

E! Online reports that hunky, 18-year-old Australian actor Hemsworth, who was spotted engaging in a steamy make-out session with the Hannah Montana star at the Nashville International Airport in August, was at Cyrus' concert at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

And just in case people didn't put two and two together, Cyrus made a speech about how life sometimes imitates art as a montage of her and Hemsworth making out played out on the big screen.

Not much for subtlety, huh, Miley?

The two also attended a private after-party at Hollywood hotspot Katsuya, where the two were seen acting "lovey-dovey." According to a source, the two have been seeing each other for more than three months now, despite any statements to the contrary Cyrus may have made.

Let us know in the comments section: Should Miley and Liam just come out as a couple already?

Zac Efron is the king of the tweens! They fell in love with the floppy-haired cutie as singing jock Troy Bolton in the Disney Channel megahit High School Musical. After its premiere in January 2006, the TV movie became the most-watched program in Disney's history.

In the summer of 2007, Efron laced up his b-ball sneakers again for HSM 2 with his costar and real-life girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens. He also jumped to the big-screen in the star-studded remake of Hairspray and landed a sexy cover of Rolling Stone, which proclaimed him, "The New American Heartthrob."

After smashing the box office with the final installment of the HSM franchise, High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Efron prepped for non-Disney roles opposite Matthew Perry in 17 Again and Claire Danes in Me and Orson Welles.

Miley Cyrus’s Party inspiration: her parents

Miley Cyrus had a vision when she went to make her “Party In The U.S.A.” music video and director Chris Applebaum was all ears.

He dished to MTV News about the 16-year-old’s inspiration. Chris shared, “Miley did have an idea — one of her favorite movies is Grease. Everything kind of sprang forward from that scene in Grease where John Travolta is singing … and he gets out of the car and goes to jungle gym and sits in one of the swings and sings the song at night as projections go in the background — she came to me [with that].”

Miley also wanted to feature a bit of her parents in the vid. Do you spy a Corral Drive In? Chris revealed: “Interesting enough, Miley’s parents Tish and Billy Ray, when they were first dating they went to a drive-in in Kentucky, I think, called the Corral Drive-In — so we named the drive-in after that as an homage to them. In addition, Miley’s mom Tish used to drive ‘79 black Pontiac Trans Am, Smokey and the Bandit style, and obviously that’s the car that Miley arrives in.”

I'm A Celebrity stars will all get paid £60k to stop bickering

I'm A Celebrity... contestants will all get the same fee to avoid bickering over pay.

ITV bosses have told stars auditioning for the series, which returns in November, they will be paid a flat rate of £60,000 for the three-week stint in the jungle - with no room for negotiation.

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It means big name stars tipped to join this year's line-up, including Michael Jackson's friend Mark Lester (above), will be on the same as lesser-known hopefuls, would could include footballer Jason Cundy, his wife Lizzie and former Liberty X singer Kelli Young.

An ITV source said: "Everyone has been warned the fee is not up for discussion. This year it's £60,000 and the view from the top is take it or leave it."

Last year glamour model Nicola McLean was furious to find her £7,500 fee was less than a fifth of the £40,000 TV star Dani Behr got.

Exclusive: Jay-Z's Next LP Will Be 'The Most Experimental I Ever Made' Plus: Bun B expands record label, plans joint tape with Young Jeezy, in Mixtape

"I've always said I believe in good music and bad music. ... I like music. The second Blueprint, the reason it was all over the place is because I like music so much. You have tracks with Lenny Kravitz then Sean Paul. Dr. Dre. It's all over the place because of my taste in music. I like music.

"My next album, which I'm working on now -- that's exclusive, no one knows that -- is gonna be the album that really ... it's not gonna be a #1 album. That's where I'm at right now. I wanna make the most experimental album I ever made. But let's not deal with that now; I want to deal with The Blueprint 3."

Streets Is Talking: News and Notes From the Underground

Bun B is working on his next solo album, expanding his record company and, yes, is in talks for a major mixtape. The underground CD, if it comes to fruition, will be a whole project co-starring Young Jeezy.

Bun said both members of UGK were cool with Jeezy prior to Pimp C's death despite Pimp and Young having a public falling-out.

"Young and I have had the opportunity to sit down and talk about all the great things we've been through. ... We still got a lot of love for each other," Bun said. "Now we're in a position to get back making great music together like we used to.

"We're going to take the tape back to the Streets Is Talking days when he was hungry, trying to get in the game. When I was hungry trying to tear up the game with Pimp still in prison and keep the UGK name out there heavily. Don't be surprised if you have a II Trill and CTE project in the stocking this holiday season. Hopefully, it will open the doors for a lot of other brothers to make a movement. He's still got his CTE crew he has to put out music with. I still got my obligations. At some point before the year is out, we're gonna try to do the mixtape this year. I guess now that I've said it, we gotta do it."

Bun is also expanding his II Trill Entertainment label in the very near future with more mixtapes.

"The mixtape we're getting ready to do is a partnership with Big Kap with Paper Chase entertainment. It's the beginning of II Trill West, and the tape is called American Made: Article 1. We're pushing new artists from the West Coast. The Gutta Boy Family is the first group."

When Bun and Kap talked, they said worst-case scenario, the Texas legend would lend a co-sign. Best case, he would be fully involved.

Bun also has a cat out of Dallas named Young J.R., then there's the launch of II Trill East with Manhood Entertainment. First up for that faction? Uncle Murda.

"The talent is there, the opportunity is there. I'm associating myself with artists I feel who have great talent."

Bun is gearing up for his solo LP. He said he just wants to take time and evaluate.

Travis Barker, DJ AM's Family Attend Funeral

DJ AM was laid to rest Wednesday in a small funeral attended by family members and close friend Travis Barker.

Mourners were seen entering Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary in West Los Angeles for the private ceremony for the celebrity deejay – real name Adam Goldstein – who died last week in New York.

A memorial for Goldstein will also be held Thursday evening at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.

"The format of the evening will be in the style of an open 12-step meeting," reads an invite for Thursday's memorial, which will be "a gathering to celebrate the life of our friend Adam Goldstein."

Jay-Z Remembers DJ AM As 'Someone That Really Loved What He Did' 'He had a bandage on his head, and he was ready to go,' Jay says of performing with A

NEW YORK — DJ AM was resilient as both a person and a professional, Jay-Z recalled of the late DJ.

The Brooklyn rapper tapped AM last September to back him for a gig in Los Angeles to help christen the reopening of the Hollywood Palladium the following month. When word broke the very next day that AM — along with Travis Barker — were critically injured in a plane crash, though, the Blueprint superstar wasn't concerned about AM making the show anymore; he just wanted him to tend to his health.

The celebrity DJ, however, did everything in his power to make the date. Less than a month after surviving the crash, which took the lives of the four other passengers aboard, AM announced he would honor his commitment to Jay-Z. The DJ told People magazine at the time that the show with the iconic MC was "the biggest thing that's happened in my career."

His resolve definitely impressed Jay-Z, who was introduced to the DJ the day before his tragic plane crash.

"I met him the day before the plane crash," Jay told MTV News on Monday, days after AM was found dead in his New York apartment. "We were doing the concert, and he told me that he had to go down to South Carolina to do a show with Travis, and then we'd go and do our show.

"The plane crash happened, and I'm thinking, 'Let him recover. We'll talk about that some other time,' " Jay continued. "He called, like, 'Nah, man, I'm still ready to go.' I was shocked by that at first. He came, he had a bandage on his head, and he was ready to go. He was someone that really loved what he did. That's passion: to love what you do and still go forward."

The two impressed the crowd throughout their performance together. At one point, Jay ventured behind the turntables while AM hammed it up for the crowd. "Make some noise for DJ AM," Jay ordered the crowd.

Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher has announced he's quitting the band, citing "violent and verbal intimidation" and a "lack of support" from management and band mates.

In a statement Friday, Gallagher said he was leaving the group -- "with some sadness and great relief" -- because he couldn't work with his brother and band mate, Liam, "a day longer." Earlier, the band had canceled a performance at a Paris festival, reportedly after a fight backstage.

On Saturday, Noel Gallagher further explained his decision to leave the group in a letter to fans on the band's Web site.

"I feel you have the right to know that the level of verbal and violent intimidation towards me, my family, friends and comrades has become intolerable," the guitarist said. "And the lack of support and understanding from my management and band mates has left me with no other option than to get me cape and seek pastures new."
Dave Hogan/GettyNoel Gallagher

The letter reportedly doesn't detail exactly what the intimidation was, or who was specifically responsible. He also doesn't directly write about his brother.

"It's obviously the worst fall-out that they've ever had, and they've had some pretty bad ones," Alan McGee, who discovered the band, told BBC News. "But they love each other. They'll come back together."

A spokeswoman for Oasis told BBC News that Liam Gallagher and the remaining Oasis members would announce a decision soon on whether to continue the band. Noel was the lead guitarist and chief songwriter. Liam is the lead singer.


Betrothed
"The Office" star John Krasinski, 29, and "The Devil Wears Prada" breakout star Emily Blunt, 26, are engaged, according to reports. His publicist confirmed the news Friday without elaborating.


Legal matters
Charges have been dropped against Japanese pop artist Yoshitomo Nara, who was arrested in February after police say he scrawled a smiley face with a marker on a New York City subway-station wall.

He had been charged with making graffiti and criminal mischief, and spent a night in jail, the Associated Press reported.

The incident occurred before an exhibit of his work opened in the city. Nara lives in Japan.

His works have sold for as much as $1.5 million.


Evan Agostini/APDaniel Craig

Haunting Craig
Daniel Craig has signed on to star in the psychological thriller "Dream House," to be directed by six-time Oscar nominee Jim Sheridan ("My Left Foot").

Craig will play a successful publishing executive who quits his job in New York City to relocate his family and two daughters to a small New England town. They soon discover that their new house was once the murder scene of a mother and her children, believed to be at the hands of the husband who survived.

Craig will make his Broadway debut this fall in "A Steady Rain," co-starring Hugh Jackman.

Sheridan's latest film, "Brothers," stars Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal and Natalie Portman, and will be released in December.

Warrant: Jackson family told cops about drugs

AP - A search warrant served at Michael Jackson's house the day after he died says family members told investigators they'd found heroin in the singer's room. But tests later showed the substance wasn't heroin, a person with knowledge of the results told The Associated Press. (Read the original story on Associated

Michael Jackson's Death Latest in Hollywood Coroner's High-Profile History

From the death of Michael Jackson last month to screen goddess Marilyn Monroe in 1962 to hip-hop kingpin notorious B.I.G. in 1997 to the 1981 death by drowning of Natalie Wood and the 1994 murder of Nicole Brown Simpson, the Los Angeles County coroner's office serves as more than a medical examiner's office -- it's Hollywood's psychic stopover between glamour and the grave.
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The Los Angeles County Coroner has a history with celebrity deaths.

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"The L.A. County coroner's office is the busiest office in the United States," said David Campbell, who worked there for 20 years, rising to the rank of captain of investigations and spokesman, before retiring in 2005. "On average, it'd be fair to say, 15 to 25 bodies a day would come into the coroner's office."

Michael Jackson is the latest star in its high-profile history to grace the L.A. county coroner's office.

"Not surprisingly, with Hollywood, they have some of the most high-profile and complex cases. They're the most technologically advanced coroner's office in the world," said Brad Schreiber, author of "Death in Paradise: An Illustrated History of the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner."

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Michael Jackson's death a homicide

A LAW enforcement official tells The Associated Press that the Los Angeles County coroner has ruled Michael Jackson's death a homicide.

The finding makes it more likely criminal charges will be filed against the doctor who was with the pop star when he died.

The official says the coroner determined a fatal combination of drugs was given to Jackson hours before he died in his rented Los Angeles mansion on June 25. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the findings have not been publicly released.

Forensic tests found the powerful anaesthetic propofol in Jackson's system along with two sedatives, the official says.

Dr Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal physician, is the target of a manslaughter probe headed by Los Angeles police.

dead

Ryan Jenkins Found Dead of Apparent Suicide

Posted Aug 23rd 2009 9:19PM by TMZ Staff

UPDATE: TMZ spoke with the manager of the motel and one of the residents. They say Jenkins checked in on Friday. He was dropped off by a woman in her early 20s who drove a silver PT Cruiser with Alberta license plates. She stayed for about 20 minutes and wasn't seen again. The room was paid for two days. When Jenkins didn't check it out today, the manager and his nephew went to check on him. When there was no answer, they entered the room and found Jenkins hanging by his belt from a coat rack. He was wearing a t-shirt and jeans.

UPDATE: Lt. Steve Holliday of Buena Park PD addressed the press, saying, "The sadness of this is all is that Mr. Jenkins will not stand before an Orange County jury for his crime."

UPDATE: His body was discovered at about 5:00 PM PT.

UPDATE: Jenkins was apparently ID'ed through fingerprints.

UPDATE: RCMP Sgt. Duncan Pound: "At this present time the investigation into the circumstances of his death is continuing, but preliminary evidence suggests that he took his own life. Any further details will not be released at this time as this investigation remains in its infancy."

Ryan Jenkins has been found dead in Canada, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

He was found dead in at Thunderbird Motel in Hope, B.C. of an apparent suicide, according to RCMP Sgt. Duncan Pound.

Jenkins' body was discovered by motel staff. According to law enforcement sources, he was found hanging.

Jenkins was charged on August 20 in the murder of his wife, Jasmine Fiore.

Fiore's mutilated body was found in a suitcase inside of a dumpster in Buena Park, Calif. on August 15.

Story developing ...

Thunderbird Motel

Judge sentences Spears snooper to probation

A court official says a woman found guilty of snooping at Britney Spears’ house has been sentenced to three years of probation and 240 hours of community service.

Los Angeles Superior Court spokeswoman Patricia Kelly says a judge in Malibu, Calif. found Miranda Tozier-Robbins guilty of peeping into Spears’ home in Calabasas, Calif.

Kelly says Tozier-Robbins also was ordered Thursday to stay away from Spears and her home.

Jay-Z's 'Run This Town' Video Feels 'Rebellious,' Director Says

Throughout Jay-Z's career, the Brooklyn MC has worn the King of New York crown, turned the Hot 97 Summer Jam stage into an annual exhibit of his greatness and probably increased sales of Yankees fitted hats more than Derek Jeter.

So you would think the video for a track called "Run This Town" would be an ode to his hometown, right? Not exactly.

Despite the clip being filmed in the Big Apple, at the historic Fort Trotten Park in Queens, the director, Anthony Mandler, said he wanted to avoid any semblance of New York's iconic imagery.

"I wanted something that didn't fit into 'this is New York, this is a building or a street [you know],' " he explained to MTV News. "I wanted it to feel more ancient. I wanted it to feel more European but on American soil. I didn't want it to have a framework, like, 'Oh, we're riding in New York.' "

Instead, the "Run This Town" video is a nihilistic, chaotic account of militia-like entities revolting, complete with Molotov-cocktail explosions, riot-like activity and the high-powered trio of Hov, Kanye West, and Rihanna performing in the midst of it all.

Mandler said the piece was more culturally inspired from current events, compared to the clip for "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)," which referenced the Italian film "Zabriskie Point."

"There's a tone and feeling to the song," Mandler said of the Blueprint 3 track. (Check out the album's full track list here.) "There's a militia, a march and a kind of rambunctious energy to it that, for me, I immediately wanted to tap into. I showed [Jay] some references from the classic rebellious zones of the world. We live in a very orderly society in America, but when you get into Brazil, you get into the Middle East, you get into Africa, you get into Eastern Europe, when you get into places like that, there's a different sort of 'we run this town' [going on]. There's less order and more chaos. So we looked at a lot of those references, new photos and historical photos, to capture that kind of falling-apart feeling."

Through the use of lighting effects and editing techniques, Mandler said he played up the aggression in the shots, creating more stark and tension-filled imagery. Mandler has worked with both Jay-Z ("Lost Ones," "D.O.A.") and Rihanna ("Disturbia," "Rehab") multiple times, but this was his first time collaborating with West. The director said he was able to successfully capture the essence of each artist while still retaining the original focus for the video.

"We wanted you to feel uneasy throughout the piece," he said. "We wanted there to be a constant layer of tension through the piece. Even in the way I shot — where the camera comes by Jay, it doesn't stop on him, it goes to Rihanna — there's kind of this chaos of revealing and covering and concealing. And things happen offscreen that you don't see.

"I think people are really gonna flip on this," he added.

MJ Burial Could Cost Jacksons a Pretty Penny

hrowing a memorial service for Michael Jackson is a lot cheaper when you trade the Staples Center for the more traditional places to honor the dead.

Law enforcement sources tell us the cost of providing police and other city services for the private memorial at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale could top $50,000. That's like a Cosco version of a memorial, compared to the estimated $1.4 million to stage the event at the Staples Center in L.A.

A Glendale PD source tells us the Jackson family will foot the bill for police and other services associated with the service, which will be held on August 29.

Chef Wan’s love for his country has earned him international recognition. He won the Best TV Celebrity Chef award at the recent Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2009, writes INTAN MAIZURA AHMAD KAMAL

IF anyone fits the moniker of “a man with many hats”, then it has to be Redzuawan Ismail, aka Chef Wan.

The 52-year-old livewire is not only a whiz in the kitchen, he’s also a multi-talented individual who has raised the bar from being just a mere cook to someone who can do so much more.

And what could be a more fitting tribute than his latest accolade – Best TV Celebrity Chef, which he received recently at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2009 held at La Comedie Francaise in Paris.

The genial Capricorn was also the proud recipient of the Best In The World Award for the Fundraising Cookbook category at the same event for a recipe book called Sajian Aidilfitri Bersama Chef Wan, a collaboration with Avon Malaysia last year.

Looking dapper in shiny blue baju Melayu, songket sampin and a black songkok placed jauntily on his head, Wan is at the Avon HQ in Petaling Jaya, after being away for months in Paris and Spain (researching another book), to launch Sajian Tradisi Bersama Chef Wan, a continuation of last year’s fundraising effort. It features 60 of his favourite recipes from various states, specially for Hari Raya.

Says Wan: “Last year, the focus was on kuih raya. This time it’s a selection of my favourite traditional Malaysian dishes. There are just so many recipes to choose from... hopefully I’ll get the chance to do something like a box set one day.”

His favourites? “I just love simple kampung food. Gulai Lemak Cili Api Ikan Semilang, Sambal Udang Petai and the different types of kerabu – delicious! They’re all in this book.”

Turning our conversation to his achievements at the World Gourmand Awards, his eyes light up. “I was so stunned when I heard I’d bagged the best TV Celebrity Chef award,” confides Wan. “I’d never have dreamt it in a million years.”

He might not have seen it coming but, for the panel of judges whose task it was to pore over the merits of all on the list, it seems Wan was the obvious choice.

“He’s the only chef in the world who can be so entertaining while being very precise in live cooking…” so reads the Press release that followed the event.

Furthermore, Wan’s experience in having hosted over 6,000 food television shows is, in fact, a world record.

Beaming with pride, he says: “When I asked the CEO of Gourmand why I was chosen, she pointed to the fact that I’d been more than just a chef in all my years in the industry.

“She mentioned how impressed they all (the judges) were by all the things I’d done to promote Malaysia in the food arena. It seems no other celebrity chef has gone to such great lengths to sell his or her country.”

They also remembered that Wan did an incredible job when he co-chaired the Gourmand Awards in KL four years ago. “Everyone said it was the best awards ever hosted by Gourmand in the last 10 years,” adds Wan, proudly.

All the big names were on the list, confides Wan, whose father is from Pahang and mum is a Singaporean. The sexy Nigella Lawson, the fiery Gordon Ramsey but “… they told me that I was the panel’s favourite, based on my capabilities and likeable personality. They said I was a true statesman. I’m really proud of that because I always strive to show how beautiful Malaysia is.”

His is a journey that has spanned more than 25 years. From working as a private chef to a very wealthy Hawaiian and cooking onboard a cruise ship from Alaska to the Caribbean, he’s done the lot.

He says: “There have been so many challenges. There were times when I didn’t get any sponsorship but I still kept going. I’d buy all the ingredients with my own money, attend the various food festivals around the world and paid my own way.”

But it is his passion for his country that keeps him driven. “I’m so blessed because our country has so much to share. We’re so unique but not enough has been done to show that. It’s our duty to promote Malaysia whenever we can,” says Wan whose other passion in life is gardening.

Last year, in November, Wan was in northern Greece for the Gastronomic Wine And History symposium. Working closely with the Islamic Museum and the National Museum, he presented a talk on the evolution of Malaysian cuisine from the time of Srivijaya’s downfall to the rise of Majapahit, right up to the period of British Rule.

Wan grins and says: “I received a standing ovation from all the speakers there. I don’t even have a PhD – I’m just a chef. When I was there, none of the chefs cooked but I did. With my own money and the help of students from a local hospitality school there, I managed to produce a four-course Peranakan meal to feed 120 journalists.”

Wan is quick to point out that he has never set out to emulate anyone. “I am also never in it to cook someone else’s food. I’ve always gone out to sell my country and with no apologies whatsoever. Kalau benda ni pedas, pedas lah. Kalau busuk belacan, busuk lah (If this thing is hot, let it be. If it smells, let it smell), because this is what we eat and we should be proud of it.”

These days, he says, there are too many chefs, albeit talented, who like to deny our food heritage.

“Too greasy lah, too lemak lah. They’re forever trying to change the food. For me, if you butcher all these wonderful foods from all these cultures, then you’ll lose everything. Protect our heritage. That’s what I strive to do and as a result, I’ve been given this award.”

Sajian Tradisi Bersama Chef Wan, available at Avon Boutiques nationwide from August 16, is priced RM21.90

Still feelin' the blues

He’s not just another musician, writes SUBHADRA DEVAN of Malaysian blues pioneer Jim Madasamy.

WHEN he snaps shut his guitar case, at 4am after a night on stage, in a dim, smoky room perfumed by the smell of alcohol, Jim Madasamy goes home and puts on his running shoes to pound out 7km with only the wind in his face.

“It’s a great feeling,” says the 59-year-old bass guitarist, a pioneer member of the Blues Gang, which has morphed into Purple Haze. That moniker comes from a Jimi Hendrix song of the same title back in the 60s.

Madasamy runs about seven kilometres a day and takes part in jogathons and half-marathons. “I did the Tower Run recently. At least I am happy to say I completed it.

“I started running 20 years ago. I was athletic from young,” recalls the happily-married musician from Johor Baru.

He remembers being beaten to the tape by his classmate, Freddie Fernandez, at school sports meets. That’s music maestro Fernandez, better known today for his work with artistes as in Karyawan than with being with the band Revolvers.

But “he (Fernandez) tells me now I could beat him by walking alone,” adds Madasamy with a solid chuckle.

Madasamy doesn’t smoke, womanise, drinks a bit, and drugs... “Eh, don’t talk about that la. Long gone, those days.”

Those days must have been the glory time of the blues and rock music in Malaysia, when revolution had air play. The Blues Gang started in 1967.

“Back then,” says Madasamy, “we didn’t rely on gadgets to get our sound. You needed lots of skill, feel and expression.”

In 1973, another founding member percussionist Shaik Karim was asked by a friend to help play bass in a band in Singapore comprising Malaysians. They entered RTM’s then Juara Kugiran competition. They didn’t get a prize but got a manager who got them mainly wedding gigs. “After a few months, we got bored because we couldn’t sport long hair and dress freely.”

Also in the lineup was Mat Blues (guitars) and later Julian Mokhtar. The band opened many a big name including for Ian Gillan (Deep Purple) and Mick Box (Uriah Heep).

The Blues Gang hits are innumerable, and include the Negri Sembilan dialect-ridden Apo Nak Di Kato. For more details on the Blues Gang, visit Jim Madasamy’s blog on www.myspace.com/mablu.

These days as Purple Haze, the lineup sees Abdul Munir on drums and Azizi Ithnin on guitars with Ito Mohd (vocals and harmonica) occassionally as well as other musicians.

“Things are slower now, especially for a blues band,” says Madasamy.

“We find it hard to get venues to play. We are asked these days, ‘What? You only play the blues, all night ah?’” he says with a laugh.

It’s not all about the blues for Madasamy. Visit youtube to check out his original Tamil songs like Ayirathil Nee Oruthi. He has 10 of them but hasn’t gone to black as yet. “No sponsor.”

“But the Blues Gang is planning to release an album soon. It’s been 10 years since our last release.”

If you get to see Purple Haze on a stage in a pub somewhere, the requested songs are usually from the Blues Gang era like Mak Siti and Ibu.

The Purple Haze band still know how to deliver the sound of those demigods of the blues and rock like Jimi Hendrix, Robert Johnson, Cream, John Mayall, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, Dire Straits, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Led Zeppelin, Johnny Winter and Steve Ray Vaughn, to name a few.

If you haven’t heard of these heroes, you need to check out Purple Haze on Saturdays, at Monsters Bar, Taman Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park, Off Jalan Kucai Lama, Kuala Lumpur. For Jim Madasamy, the blues still runs strong.

Celebrities tied to Malaysian sex party

A noted actress and female newscaster were among 26 people arrested in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lampur for taking part in a sex party, sources allege.

The unidentified sources said drug tests on the two female celebrities, whose identities were not reported, allegedly produced positive results, The Star reported Friday.

The source said the actress and newscaster, whose reported ages were 25 and 22 respectively, were arrested at a four-star Kuala Lampur hotel early Thursday morning.

When police arrived, many of the party-goers were already high on drugs, an anonymous source alleged. There were also three couples lying on beds, but they were clothed.

The sources said various illegal drugs, including cocaine and ketamine, were allegedly found in the hotel room housing the party.

The Star said the alleged sex party was apparently organized through the online social networking Web site, Friendster.

Nurul marks a new life with new album

NURUL Wahab looked vibrant as she walked into the studio. The look on her face signalled that she was ready to put everything behind her and move on.

What better way than to re-invent herself and release her latest solo album, Tika Cinta.

After parting with composer-husband Ajai, Nurul is back with her seventh album under Metadome Sdn Bhd that features songs composed and written by Sharon Paul, Johar Lucas, Tam Spider, M. Nasir, the late Loloq, herself and a few others.

“There are six new songs in this album. A bonus track, Tangis Syukur, was composed by Tam Spider and with lyrics by Loloq.”

Her first single, Tika Cinta has a strong Japanese pop (J-pop) element and was composed by Sharon.

The female composer also has three other songs in the album — Sepenuh Jiwa, Kala Hati and Tertutup Hati.

“I’ve always wanted to work with Sharon. When it comes to work, she is very serious. However, she is always open to other ideas. I hope the fans can accept these changes.”

“The first time I listened to Tika Cinta, I knew I wanted it. The melody and music arrangements are refreshing. It has the ability to make listeners dance to the beat. The simple lyrics complete the song.”

Her latest solo album is filled with songs about love and life. Two of the songs that have special significance to her are Tertutup Hati and Bukan Cermin Di Hati.

Tertutup Hati is about a woman who has fallen out of love with her partner while Bukan Cermin Di Hati, which is also her first stab at songwriting, is about what she is going through.

“My favourite songs in the album are Tika Cinta, Sepenuh Jiwa, Kala Hati and Bukan Cermin Di Hati.”

Not many artistes produce EPs these days. Nurul, however, feels that this would allow her fans to enjoy her songs.

Despite the emergence of new artistes, Nurul is not worried about re-entering the market after being away for more than two years.

“After the divorce, I focused on other areas such as being the spokesperson for the energy drink Power Root for two years, TV3’s Jom Heboh concerts and acting.”

“At the same time, I was working on songs for this album. I even went to Jakarta for a recording session. That’s probably why people thought that I was lying low.”

Nurul also explained that her latest album still has a pop flavour but fans can expect something different this time around.

Despite having to juggle her acting and singing career, the 32-year-old mother, has no problem with making time for her daughter, Ayu Nazirah, 11.

“I usually see her at least two or three times a week. If I don’t get to see her at home, I would see her in school. There are times that I don’t get to see her for a whole week but since she is living with Ajai, I know that she is in good hands.”

Nurul is happy with the way things are right now and admits that she’s seeing someone.

“I want to take things slowly and learn about each other.

“I have many friends, especially men. That’s probably because I am a rough and adventurous girl.

“However, at times, it is hard for me to move on because people tend to judge a book by its cover. I can’t do anything about the negative things that people say about me, so I just let it be.”

Tika Cinta, priced at RM19.90, will be released tomorrow and available at music stores nationwide.

Artistic Merdeka

This intriguing exhibition features Malaysian art from the 1950s to the latest cutting-edge digital works.

SO what has 52 years of Malaysian art produced? It ranges from idyllic 1950s watercolours and surreal 1960s abstracts up to social statements of the 1990s and the digitally manipulated art of the new millennium – judging from the current exhibition Changing Phases: Relative Spaces at Galeri Petronas in Kuala Lumpur, held in conjunction with our 52nd Merdeka.

The show “explores the development of Malaysian art practices, examining the contemporary social environment of Malaysia and its relationship with its Asean neighbours since the 1950s, with selected artworks from the Petronas art collection”, says the press release.

The earliest work is Penang Hill (1951) by Yong Mun Sen, one of Malaysia’s foremost pioneer painters.

“This was his perfect world, very calm, very pastoral. Can you see where we have gone in 50 years?” laughs the exhibition’s guest curator Shireen Naziree, during a walk-through interview at Galeri Petronas while the works were being hung earlier this month.

His was “an uncomplicated fluid painting style synthesizing Western and Chinese aesthetic influences,” she adds.

The next artist she highlights is Latiff Mohidin. In addressing his Pago Pago series, Shireen notes: “His art of the 1960s was influenced by German Expressionism.

“Then, in his travels around South-East Asia, Latiff studied the relationship its great monuments, such as Angkor Wat, have with nature. Pago Pago is a combination of the organic shapes of leaves and his interpretation of ancient architecture.”

Shireen then comes to Khoo Sui Hoe, who graduated from Singapore’s Nanyang School of Art in 1959: “While he studied the antecedents and art of Matisse and Chagall, and admired the liberal surrealism of Picasso and Dali, Sui Hoe created his own stylised forms, allowing his imagination to flow with his sub-conscious memories.”

Regarding his work, Take a Cloud and Fly (1970), the artist once commented that he always “had a fascination with clouds as they are endless”.

Walking along the gallery in the recommended clockwise direction, we lay eyes on Dr Choong Kam Kow’s Image and Identity (1995). It juxtaposes Chinese dumplings and Malay ketupats, perhaps reflecting his tertiary educational background in both Taiwan and New York.

“Foodstuffs from our diverse cultures have given Malaysia its distinct identity,” points out Shireen. “And to capture this unique multiplicity, the artist has combined painting and silk screen printing techniques.”

Close by is Kelvin Chap’s Urban Invasion (2001) which suggests how age-old Sarawakian face masks have now been replaced by present day masks of long-sleeved shirts and ties.

“Previous generations were more open; we are less open and need to wear our version of masks these days,” smiles Shireen.

She adds that Chap’s interaction with the Dayak culture of Sarawak inspired his unique style of tightly rendered composite paintings of rich, colourful tribal cultures. But Urban Invasion departs from that to question how rapid urbanisation and modernisation are consuming native culture.

Another Sarawakian who looks at the loss of the state’s heritage is Shia Yih Yiing in the self-explanatory Homage to a Vanishing World (1997).

More social commentary is to come. Dua Daerah (2007) by Masnoor Ramli Mahmud compares the 2004 Asian tsunami in Aceh and the devastating earthquake in Jogjakarta in 2006 while Jailani Abu Hassan’s Halal (2006) is a reaction against prohibitions “being shoved down people’s throats” quips Shireen.

Bayu Utomo Radjikin’s Qiblat (2006) reflects the contemporary political question of whether the Malays will choose the path of the Quran or old (and new!) feudalism while Hamir Soib’s Cengkaman (2006) also questions the grip of tradition over our lives.

And then, there is Yau Bee Ling’s Private Lady (2008).

“It shows that busy-ness inside a woman’s head, how we connect by technology, through computers and mobile phones, and even have love affairs online nowadays,” comments Shireen.

Yee I-Lan’s digitally manipulated Kopivosian (2007), uses the Kadazan word for “welcome”. But instead of being greeted by Sabah’s rich green nature, the viewer sees a sterile strip mall.

Intimacy is felt in Simryn Gill’s series of photos of Malaysian home interiors, from the grand to the humble, taking us almost on a private journey to the inner sanctums of this nation.

Towards the end of the exhibition, we come to The Beginning by Syed Thajudeen, a Malaysian who trained in Madras (now Chennai), India.

“This work is about the beginning of Malacca, when Parameswara spots the deer.

“Syed Thajudeen studied first-hand the cave paintings of Ajanta there. The deep impact of the Indian art tradition on him is most noticeable in his figurative depictions of Ramayana characters. This is also a part of our Malaysian cultural tapestry.”

A fitting exhibition indeed for this month of Merdeka.

Nine potentially award-winning directors share how they devised their mini masterpieces. OUT of 80 hopefuls, nine finalists were recently shortlisted

Emmy Rossum and Ex Secretly Married?

Posted Tuesday 11 August 03:05 PM By: PopEater Staff

• 2 Comments

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'The Phantom of the Opera' star Emmy Rossum and her longtime music industry exec boyfriend Justin Siegel are reported to be splitting up. But amid the news of their break-up come intriguing reports that the couple was actually married, but never announced it to the public.

One source confirmed the union to blogger Perez Hilton.

"Emmy and Justin decided to keep that part of their relationship a secret and out of the media spotlight," the source said. "They wanted to keep it private in order to prevent their marriage from coming under scrutiny."

Wajah2 Ct di Majlis Rumah Terbuka SNP

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Wajah2 Ct di Majlis Rumah Terbuka SNP

Untuk tatapan para peminat ct, layanlaaaa gambar terbaru ct ketika ditemui media di Majlis Rumah Terbuka anjuran syarikatnya, SNP.

Malaysia hit with haze from forest fires

Malaysia was Wednesday hit with the worst haze levels recorded this year, as smoke from forest fires caused "unhealthy" levels of pollution in six areas.

Environment Department director general Rosnani Ibarahim said hundreds of forest fires were blazing in the Indonesian provinces of Kalimantan and Sumatra, and in Malaysia's Sarawak state on Borneo island.

"Malaysia started to record an increase in hotspot numbers since Sunday due to the dry weather and open burning activities which spread very fast," she told AFP.

The Air Pollutant Index (API) recorded unhealthy levels of between 102 and 137 in six areas on Wednesday morning, including a district of the capital Kuala Lumpur, two in surrounding Selangor state, and three in Sarawak.

The API considers a score of 101-200 to be unhealthy, while 51-100 is moderate.

An official from the Meteorological Services Department said the heavy haze caused visibility levels to fall to 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) in Selangor as well as Malacca, a tourist destination south of the capital.

Farmers in Indonesia and Malaysia's half of Borneo island burn forests every year to clear land for agriculture, sending plumes of smoke across neighbouring countries.

The haze hit its worst level in 1997-1998, costing the Southeast Asian region an estimated nine billion dollars by disrupting air travel and other business activities.

Travel cards for fun

8TV’s very own reality travel show will soon unfold before viewers who will get to travel around the peninsula with fellow citizens and celebrities. BIBI NURSHUHADA RAMLI writes.

SiNCE its inception in 2004, 8TV has offered a wide variety of television programmes ranging from local and international dramas to comedy and reality series.

For its latest, 8TV joins forces with Esso and Mobil and Tourism Malaysia to bring you Discover Smiles Zoom! Malaysia, a 12-episode travel programme with a difference.

Apart from showcasing Malaysia’s rich culture and exciting tourist spots, Discover Smiles Zoom! Malaysia will feature 24 two-person teams on a treasure hunt as they visit Peninsular Malaysia’s hot spots.

“This is a first for 8TV as it’s a reality show that also showcases tourism spots and cultural aspects that youths today would like to know about,” said 8TV general manager Lam Swee Kim in a press conference recently.

She added that thanks to Tourism Malaysia, Esso and Mobil, they were able to find fantastic locations and come up with interesting tasks for the contestants.

“Esso and Mobil are pleased to be able to help fellow Malaysians discover more about our country while offering the convenience and benefits of our Smiles loyalty card,” said Esso Malaysia Berhad director Faridah Ali.

Deputy Director-General of Marketing at Tourism Malaysia, Datuk Amiruddin Abu, hopes to get Malaysians out on the road, travelling around Malaysia and enjoying the food, culture and landscapes that have captured the hearts of so many foreign travellers.

After a round of auditions, 22 teams of two were selected to participate in the competition. Each week, two of the teams will be assigned a State and they will race to a selected destination.

Along the way, they will have to compete in challenges that will test their general knowledge on history and culture and also their treasure hunting skills.

The challenges are also based on what makes people smile, from acts of kindness to entertaining strangers, such as performing the dondang sayang and wayang kulit, making popiah skin and cracking open durians.

The teams will each be given Esso and Mobil’s Smiles cards, preloaded with points. They have to carefully plan the usage of the points, which they can use to redeem fuel, food and beverages.

Apart from these 22 teams, two teams of celebrity contestants will also be joining the fun. They are Alif Satar, Alvin Wong, Anith OIAM and Baki Zainal.

“They will be based in Kuala Lumpur. Yes, maybe they are familiar with the place but you’ll be surprised how it may all turn out,” said Lam.

The rules and concept of Discover Smiles Zoom! Malaysia may be similar to American reality series Amazing Race, but Lam explained that there are differences.

“Discover Smiles Zoom! Malaysia only covers Peninsular Malaysia and not other countries. Moreover, there will be a winner each week unlike the one ultimate winner in Amazing Race. Plus, the contestants will have to use their Smiles card in order to win.

“This is our first season, so if it is a big success, we will consider doing it in Sabah and Sarawak,” said Lam on why the show only covers Peninsular Malaysia.

Playing host is Aishah Sinclair, who claimed that she had learnt a lot from the travelling that she did for the show.

“Thanks to this show, I have been to almost every little kampung in all the states. I’ve eaten amazing dishes and so much durian, enough to last me three years,” she said with a smile.

Every winning group will be taking home RM3,000, 50,000 Smiles points and two bottles of four-litre Mobil 1 lubricant.

The runner -up will walk away with RM1,000, 30,000 Smiles points and two bottles of four-litre Super 2000 lubricant.

The Smiles points earned by the teams upon completion of each task will be donated to a chosen charity organisation.

• Discover Smiles Zoom! Malaysia airs beginning tonight at 9.30pm on 8TV.

Congratulations

Twin babies

First of all,Congratulations to Ziana Zain and her husband for their new twins!Perhaps now fans are searching for “Gambar anak Kembar Ziana Zain”.But sadly Ziana Zain only will reveal her cute twins after 100 days.So fans,wait for another 100 days for Ziana Zain twins picture. As for now, media only reported Ziana Zain had delivered a 2.1 kilogram baby boy and a 1.7 kilogram baby girl at unknown private hospital in Shah Alam.

the begining of life rita and aidil

Rita Rudaini and Aidil Zafuan can now officially call themselves parents. The baby was born on 8/7/09 (wednesday)at Prince Court Medical Centre. The baby was given a name Aidit Rayyan Rizqin, weighing about 2.9 kg. Wow..this kinda small, but I hope the baby has no health problems. Not sure why the parents did not approve of the marriage earlier on when their own son is even wilder than Rita Rudaini. News has it that Zaquan Adha has been patronizing night clubs and does a lot of uncalled for activities. With the baby, hopefully things will change for the better. Let bygones by bygones.

Celcom Blue

Search to rock KL

BRACE yourself for the Search Di Awan Biru Concert, starring the country’s most iconic rock group Search, on Aug 1 in Kuala Lumpur. The concert carnival, which is the band’s biggest gig of the year, will take place at the Polo Pavilion, Bukit Kiara Equestrian And Country Resort, Kuala Lumpur from 3pm until midnight. This will be the fifth installment of the Search Di Awan Biru Concert tour series that took place in various locations over the last few months The group also visited Prai in Penang, Johor Baru, Jengka in Pahang and Kuala Terengganu. The concerts are organised by Art Is At Work Sdn Bhd, with Celcom as the main sponsor.

Search’s long-time band member Kid will join them on stage again, rocking “like the old good times”.

Kid, who has been with Search since the Fenomena album in 1989, will be performing with Hillary and Din on guitars.

To make the eight-hour concert more festive, Search has invited four independent bands to share the stage.

The confirmed bands are Pesawat, Revenge, Zip Ziller and Republic of Brickfields.

Thanks to Rapid KL, there will be two pick-ups every hour from noon until 1am the next morning, from KL Sentral to the venue, to cater to the expected crowd of 15,000.

Tickets are sold at RM58 and RM88 at participating Ticket Hotline outlets, namely the Kuala Lumpur Ticket Call Centre TTDI (03-7725-1177), Ticket2u Wangsa Melawati, Ticket Charge Mid Valley City, Viva Sports Shop Pertama Complex, Istana Budaya, Triways KLCC, Triways TTDI, Indoor Football Centre Jalan Genting Klang, Sri Amera Putrajaya, KSDBKL Brickfields, Sri Amera Shah Alam, HTO De Futsal Subang and Jaya Jusco Bukit Tinggi, Klang.

Exclusive to Prabayar Celcom Blue customers is a 30 per cent discount on concert tickets.

Just type ‘Search’ and send to 28881 and reload a minimum of RM30.
Customers who purchase and activate a Prabayar Celcom Blue pack will be entitled to free Search mobile content.
For details, visit www.duniasearch.com or www.tickethotline.com.my.

Saying goodbye to Yasmin Ahmad

Traffic was unusually heavy at nine this morning in the SS19 housing area here, as hundreds of people streamed into the peach-pink Abu Bakar As-Siddiq Mosque where special prayers were being readied.

An elderly Malay man in a blue Kancil driving past rolled down his window and asked: “Did someone pass away?”

“Yasmin Ahmad,” passers-by supplied.

“Ohhh...” he answered, shocked into silence. Instant recognition. The lines on his face deepened in sadness.

Yasmin Ahmad, celebrity film director and a giant in the world of commercial advertisements, was larger than life. The multicultural crowd that gathered in the mosque compound was proof of that, as well as reflecting the eclectic ethnicities she liked to use in her many movies and award-winning television ads shown in Malaysia and Singapore.

“She was a perfectionist,” said a Malay man met at the cemetery who remembers going on the various Petronas ad shoots with Yasmin.

“Not the easiest person to deal with. Had quite a bit of temper and was not afraid to show it,” the 49-year-old laughed softly.

“But she got things done,” he added.

“She was a darling,” said an ethnic-Chinese fellow reporter — off-duty — who had become friends some five years ago at a special pre-cinema release screening of Yasmin’s hit film “Sepet” at the Leo Burnett ad agency in Kuala Lumpur. It was Yasmin’s easy-going friendliness that touched her.

“Such a darling,” she repeated softly.

Yet for all the radical ideas and her penchant for shaking up the entertainment world while alive, her funeral was a sombre, quiet affair.

The crowds were respectfully silent at the mosque while her body was bathed and prepared for the last rites and again at the new Muslim burial ground in USJ 20 where she was laid to rest.

Tears ran down the faces of many freely today as they witnessed Yasmin’s body, cleaned and wrapped in pristine white sheets, laid into the clay yellow earth.

Yasmin’s husband, Abdullah Tan Yew Leong, staggered backwards and was gently led to a straw mat at the side.

Her mother, a tiny woman, was bowed under the weight of her age and very likely, at seeing her child go ahead on the last journey before her.

She passed out. The women nearby rushed forward and caught her in their arms, and gently put her on the mat as a mother lays her exhausted child to bed.

They fanned her prone figure furiously as the imam read out the last prayers for Yasmin’s soul to be at rest in a voice that rose hardly above a whisper.

The ladies in their headscarves dabbed unconsciously at their eyes hidden behind big, black sunshades. The men clapped each other on the back in masculine support, each gripping the other’s shoulder tightly.

A pall hung over them, heavy as the overcast dawn which greeted her death. It did not disperse even when the noon-day sun blazed overhead.

Amy Mastura worrying about kids

For singer Amy Mastura motherhood is all about nagging and worrying. She worries about her children when they go to school and she worries about them even when they're at home.

The sweet mother of two girls - Adriana, eight years old, and Adalia, four, says motherhood has changed her a lot.
“There are a lot more responsibilities now. Being a mother, most of the time I feel worried. I constantly worry about my two daughters. I think that's what motherhood is all about. Every single day there is this feeling of worry. If they're sick, I worry. Or if they're okay, I worry in case they fall down. If they don't study, I worry too. When they go to school, I worry about them. If they make friends at school, I worry. If they don't make friends, I worry.

“I worry if my daughters cannot fit in. For me, you don't have to be clever; it's your PR (public relations) that matters. If you are nice to people, if you can fit in in any society, you'll be okay. So, I'm scared if they cannot fit in. I'm worried if my daughters have the type of character that society doesn't like,” says Amy, adding that her elder daughter is more like the father while the younger one is more like her.

She admits to being worried for them because they are girls. However, after a short pause, she points out that even if she had sons she would be equally worried.

“I don't just worry about who they meet or go out with when they leave the house. I also worry about them when they are at home – I'm scared they will open the gate and go out.

“I also try to prepare them regarding what to do if they meet strangers – what to do and where to go. I tell them if they are approached by 'bad people', leave the maid and run. Let the maid handle the 'bad person',” she says laughing.

Amy hopes her children will be able to fit in regardless of whether they are in the city, kampung or abroad.

“Fitting in is one thing, but they also must know their limitations so that they don't just do what everyone else is doing,” says Amy.

With her children as her top priority, Amy says she makes sure she's at home at night to see them before they sleep. She even accepts fewer outstation jobs now.

When they were younger, the girls used to go along with Amy for her outstation jobs. However, it is not so easy to do so now because they are both in school.

While Adalia still wants to tag along with her wherever she goes, Adriana prefers to stay at home and play computer games.

Amy doesn't put a limit on how much time the girls can spend on the computer as long as they finish their school work first.

When they are finished, then they can play computer games and watch TV as much as they want.

“There's no point in stopping them from using the computer because then they'll play games on the phone or the Game Boy. There are games everywhere,” says Amy.

Although she is more relaxed with certain things, Amy is very particular when it comes to respect for elders.

“I am particular about their manners and how they speak to their elders. I don't tolerate them speaking loudly or yelling at elders.”

Amy believes in spending as much time as possible with her children now while they are still young. She tells her husband that they better take the kids with them on holidays now before the day comes when the girls no longer want to spend time with them