 Malaysia's pop princess to marry after months of rumour ADVERTISEMENT AFP Photo Malaysia's leading pop star Siti Nurhaliza Taruddin ended months of intense speculation by announcing she will marry a wealthy businessman 20 years her senior after his recent divorce. Siti, 27, finally revealed her feelings for Khalid Mohamad Jiwa at a packed press conference broadcast live on television. The engagement and wedding parties are to be held simultaneously on August 21, with a lavish wedding reception planned on August 28 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the city's newest exhibition space. Her romance with the recently-divorced entrepreneur, who has four children, has been the subject of fevered speculation in Malaysia's tabloids for months. "I would like to keep private some of the things I find attractive about Datuk Khalid, but one of the most endearing qualities is the love he has for his children, that impresses me," said Siti. Dressed in a modest yellow and orange ethnic Malay floor-length outfit, she was flanked by her fiance who sported a matching yellow shirt. "I think Siti is a very special person, in many ways," said Khalid, when asked about his feelings for the fresh-faced star. A national icon in Malaysia, Siti has released about a dozen Malay-language albums which mainly feature love songs. She also has legions of adoring fans in neighbouring Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore, and has won MTV music video awards for the past four years. Siti Nurhaliza's wholesome, girl-next-door image is popular with the region's large Muslim population which frowns on sexy foreign artists. In May, she caused a sensation in conservative Malaysia by declaring she was in love and "enjoying every minute of it", although at the time she brushed aside reports connecting her with Khalid, whose divorce was finalised earlier this month. On Monday she dismissed questions over the age gap with 47-year-old Khalid. "For me the age difference is not an issue ... it is all in the hands of God. Our relationship, meeting, life and death is all in the hands of God," she said. An Article of siti still denying the truth on june 24....  Datuk K and family visit home of pop icon Siti Nurhaliza KUALA LIPIS: A visit to the family home of pop darling Siti Nurhaliza by businessman Datuk Khalid Muhammad Jewa along with his mother and sister has fuelled more speculation on the “impending marriage.” It was not immediately known what the purpose of the visit was but speculation was rife that Khalid was there to merisik, which is a customary visit by a groom aspirant to seek the parents' consent for an engagement with their daughter. An entourage in three cars was said to have entered the singer's house at Taman Permata in Sungai Kerpan, near here, at about 2pm, just after Friday prayers yesterday. Although Datuk K, as he is popularly referred to by the media, was not spotted, a black Mercedes-Benz bearing the number plate WMR 38, purportedly his, was seen. A family friend later told newsmen that Khalid was inside the house but refuted suggestions that the visit was related to an engagement. He said it was purely a social visit. The man also said Siti was not at home. FUELLING SPECULATION: Several cars including a black Mercedes-Benz said to be Datuk K’s were seen parked in front of Siti’s house in Taman Permata in Sungai Kerpan, near Kuala Lipis, after Friday prayers yesterday. Reporters, who got wind of the visit, rushed to the house and tried to interview family members and relatives but were turned away. The family friend, who claimed to be a policeman, told reporters waiting outside the house compound to leave. He said the family had made the request as they did not want to be disturbed. However, a close source revealed that Khalid was there to discuss the wedding “date” with Siti's parents. It is learnt that Khalid, his mother and sister had lunch at the house and that Siti's parents were more than happy to receive the guests. It was said that one of Siti's hesitations in revealing her beau was due to her family's unhappiness over her choice. Numerous attempts to contact Siti, her brother Ayie and sister-in-law Rozie were unsuccessful. When contacted through SMS and asked whether he was engaged to Siti, Khalid replied: “Sorry, I have no comment. There is no engagement. Thanks.” On Thursday, Khalid said he would make an announcement next month but remained evasive when asked whether he was “the one” in Siti's life. Siti, in an interview recently, had also denied speculation that she would be getting married on Aug 8 and refused to entertain questions on Khalid. Rumours about Siti's “secret” relationship started last year but speculation about her relationship with Khalid became stronger when she admitted to the press in March that she was in love. But the million-dollar question remains: Is Datuk K really the man in Siti's heart? |
