Spotlight on fiancee, family not used to Mawi's fame.
Mohamed Naim Samijan is finding it hard getting used to the spotlight his family has come into. The 50-year-old Felda settler has become the focus of not only his neighbours but also the Press ever since Asmawi Ani, better known as Mawi, won the Akademi Fantasia 3 last Saturday.Naim’s daughter Nor Diana, 21, is engaged to Mawi.
"Even my neighbours are asking when they are getting married. I tell them that they have not fixed a date."We have to respect the bridegroom’s family and discuss details of the wedding with them first," he said when met at his home in Felcra Sunga Ara. He said his daughter had known Mawi for several years and they were engaged in a simple ceremony in February. He said he was happy for Mawi who has been transformed into a singing sensation after winning 1.7 million SMS votes in the final concert.
Nevertheless, he said he did not want Mawi’s fame to affect Nor Diana."I have advised her to be calm and patient as with this win also comes a tight schedule. I also told her not to change her ways but remain a simple girl." HAPPY COUPLE: A picture of Mawi and Nor Diana taken last Raya.Naim said his future son-in-law had always been honest, humble and straightforward.
"When he asked for Nor Diana’s hand in marriage, I accepted him with an open heart," he said.Mawi, he said, at that time was between jobs — teaching Quran at home and working at a karaoke lounge.Meanwhile, in Felda Taib Andak Kulai, Mawi's primary school teacher Jaafar Masuan, 47, said Mawi had shown extraordinary talent as a nasyid singer from an early age.‘Mawi will not change’Nor Diana Mohamed Naim, 21, the fiancee of singing sensation Asmawi Ani, 24, is confident the singer will be unfazed by fame.
"My instinct tells me that he will remain the person he is and will not change despite the popularity and fame after winning Akademi Fantasia 3," she said at her home in Felcra Sungai Ara, here.Nor Diana, who got engaged to Mawi on Feb 11, said they had a long discussion after Mawi was accepted as a contender on the reality TV show.Among others, he promised her that he would remain faithful to her and asked her to be understanding on his hectic contract-bound schedule as a recording artiste with Maestro."I believe that he will be able to weather the challenges as an artiste and keep his promise.
"After winning the competition, he phoned me and said that he will not have a change of heart," she said.Nor Diana, who works as a quality control assistant at an electronics factory in Kota Tinggi, also said Mawi has warned her from now on, they would be in the limelight, including media coverage and public attention."I have always prayed that he will be a singer and now our prayers have been answered, Alhamdullillah," she said.Nor Diana was introduced to Mawi by her colleague.
After five months of phone calls, they first dated on Aug 31, last year. The relationship blossomed and they were engaged last February.Mawi auditioned for AF on March 19, which happened to be Nor Diana’s 21st birthday."Mawi said his acceptance into AF is a birthday gift to me."When we got engaged, he promised that the wedding would be held next year, but now it is up to Mawi," she said.
Source: www.nst.com.my
Bibiran: So I guess we'll be hearing lots of this instant celebrity couple huh? I can imagine already many marketing minded individuals trying to see what opportunity might be available for them to do some good product placement. Lets see.... A hotel could provide their ballroom for his wedding reception, a bridal shop could sponsor his wedding attire plus pelamin, a rental car company could provide his transportation.... theres a lot eh? Infact, Mawi & Nor Diana wont even have to spend that much! It'll be like the wedding of the decade! Almost everything sponsored for!
Please dont take this as me making fun of them ok? We are back in reality and all those things are possible. Anyways, I wish them the best of luck and hopefully they wont be bothered so much by the press/media as they go on with their life. Below are some more headlines worth a look...
