Siti Nurhaliza eager to have second child

Compiled by SIRA HABIBU, C. ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHAN

DATUK Seri Siti Nurhaliza (pic) is determined to have a second baby despite being busy juggling her singing career and business operations, Utusan Malaysia reported.

The 41-year-old songstress said she would not put her plans to conceive this year on hold, adding that she was trying her best to balance her time between career and family.

Siti, who got married in 2006, delivered her first child in 2018.

Like other business and entertainment industry players, she is feeling the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and described this year as a challenging one.

“(But) my plans to conceive will go on. Although I am busy working, I will not postpone (fertility) treatment.

“Work and family are important, ” she said, adding that she was prepared to take on the challenges compounded by the pandemic.

Siti hoped the situation would get better soon so that the authorities would let concerts be staged again.

“Times are tough for singers as staging concerts is still not allowed.

“I pray that things will return to normal one day and that entertainment industry players can resume business as usual, ” she added.

> Ketum leaves are being sold at a price 10 times higher in Thailand, thus driving smuggling activities

in Sungai Golok, Kelantan, Harian Metro reported.

Tak Bai district deputy CID Kpt Samreng Ketkew said syndicates in Thailand were willing to take the risk in view of the high returns and demand for ketum leaves.

He said ketum leaves were sold at RM15 per kg in Malaysia, while in Thailand it was RM150 per kg.

Kpt Samreng hoped Malaysians residing in the Sungai Golok area were not involved with the syndicates.

“This is my advice: Stay away from the syndicates or risk being nabbed, ” he said after a joint operation with the Malaysian marine police.

Pengkalan Kubor Marine police Third Region commander Asst Supt Mohd Rudzuan Ahmad said that on March 18, they seized 285kg of ketum leaves worth RM30,650.

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.