Star behind Malay dubbing of cartoon gives birth while in hospital

THE voice behind the Malay version of the Doraemon cartoon character has been warded at the intensive care unit (ICU) of Seberang Jaya Hospital after experiencing breathing difficulties, reported Mingguan Malaysia.

Ruhaiyah Ibrahim, 41, who has been dubbing the voice of Doraemon since 2000, started having difficulty in breathing on Thursday but ignored the symptoms until it worsened the day after.

»She wasto havebeen bornin thesecond week ofFebruary ... Maybeshe looks likeDoraemon«RUHAIYAH IBRAHIM, ON HERNEWBORN DAUGHTER WHOMSHE HAD YET TO SEE

Ruhaiyah, who was almost nine months pregnant, also had to undergo a Caesarean as doctors were worried that her condition would affect her unborn baby.

She has yet to see her newborn daughter, her fifth child, as Ruhaiyah was not allowed to leave the ICU.

“She was to have been born in the second week of February, but I had to undergo surgery because of my condition.

“Maybe she looks like Doraemon,” she joked.

Ruhaiyah is also the voice behind Chibi Maruko Chan, Ultraman Cosmos, Yu Gi Oh, and Super Dullica – Japanese cartoons that have been dubbed in Malay.

> A grandmother of two was among the participants at the audition of singing competition Akademi Fantasia 6 (AF6), reported Kosmo Ahad.

Hairina Abdul Halim, 44, said she decided to try her luck after organisers opened the competition to those aged between 18 and 45. Previously, it was limited to those aged 27 and below.

A former nightclub singer with 25 years' experience, Hairina said she was not anxious when competing against much younger participants.

“I know my chances are slim, but I am not nervous.

“I came to have fun, and to make the audition merrier,” she said, adding that her family, including her 22-year-old daughter, did not know she was taking part in AF6.