Compiled by DIYANA PFORDTEN, C.ARUNO and R.ARAVINTAN
ACTRESS Puteri Balqis Azizi, herself only 17 years old, has taken on the role of a teen in an underage marriage in a drama series titled Terlanjur Cinta, Harian Metro reported.
The actress said, personally, she feels disheartened about the issue of underage marriages, as she believes children are too innocent to have to shoulder the heavy responsibilities of marriage.
“When I first read the script, I immediately cried. It is a sensitive topic, but it is not really talked about,” she said.
Puteri Balqis, better known as Aqish, said the drama is about more than a teen marrying an older man, but also focuses on sacrifices a daughter makes for her family.
“Many people can relate to the story because it centres on family.
“My role in the story shows how her sacrifices are too painful to bear. She’s only 17 and should not be going through such a situation,” she said.
Puteri Balqis said she felt it was difficult to dissociate from her character Aishah, even after production had ended.
“Every day, even when I go home, my mother calls me Esah. That’s the impact. I hope the audience can also feel that impact,” she added.
> The prices of food, including kuih, sold at Ramadan bazaars have gone up by 20% to 30% this year, which the Association of Malaysian Hawkers and Traders attributes to the increase in the cost of ingredients, Harian Metro reported.
Its president Datuk Seri Rosli Sulaiman said traders had to increase prices, arguing that it would not be fair for them to absorb the increased cost from suppliers as it may affect their business.
“It will be impossible for businesses to survive if they do not raise prices. I hope the government, especially the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, can control prices at all levels of the chain, including suppliers, not just focusing on traders and small hawkers,” he said.
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.
