Criticisms make me stronger, says Neelofa

Sidang media Anugerah MeleTOP Era 2018 bagi mengumumkan barisan hos utama dan calon Top 20. Artis yang bakal hadir adalah ; Zizan, Mira Filzah, Abam, Siti Nordiana, Syamel, Hael Husaini, Tajul, Aiman Tino, Estranged, Shukri Yahaya, Syatilla Melvin, Siti Elizad dan ramai lagi.

Compiled by ASHLEY TANG, CRYSTAL CHIAM SHIYING and R. ARAVINTHAN 

AFTER numerous controversies and criticisms, actress and entrepreneur Neelofa (pic) said going through this testing period has only made her stronger, Berita Harian reported.

“I do not care what other people say. Maybe they think I chase awards, but actually it comes from hard work,” she said.

Neelofa, whose real name is Noor Neelofa Mohd Noor, was also the recipient of the Top Top Meletop Award at the MeleTOP ERA (AME) 2018 awards last Sunday.

The 29-year-old from Pasir Mas, Kelantan, said she was grateful as the criticisms have brought her closer to her fans.

She said she was touched when her fans stand by her and give her words of encouragement.

“I cannot stop people talking about me. I only can be stronger and continue to work hard so that my success will inspire others. If I keep thinking about what others say, I wouldn’t be able to focus on my career and business,” she said.

Neelofa admitted she once came very close to giving up after being continuously criticised by the public, and when a family member became embroiled in it.

She also said she felt sorry for her younger sister Nur Ameera Khan, 17, who has also been on the receiving end of the brickbats.

“She is only 17 and it is not fair that she is constantly being punished. Give her room to learn from her mistakes so that she can mature. Despite all that, I am amazed by her determination,” she added.

> More than 100 villagers, especially housewives and the elderly at Kampung Sungai Seluang Sebrang in Lunas, Kedah, have been living in fear of wild monkeys for the past 10 years, Sinar Harian reported.

Housewife Rokiah Pin, 67, said the monkey population in the area has increased because of development and forest clearing that has driven them close to human settlements.

It has become a concern because the fearless monkeys frequently damage the villagers’ property.

“It has become intolerable. Even if we chase them off, they come back.

Other villagers said the monkeys also raided their chicken coops and stole the eggs, and appealed to the authorities to take action.

The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.