#SHOWBIZ: Syed Saddiq, Bella share tips for overcoming stress

New Straits Times19-05-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: "Sit next to Bella." That was Muar Member of Parliament, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman's, response when actress and singer Bella Astillah asked him how he deals with stress.
However, Saddiq's answer was merely a joke during a live TikTok broadcast where Bella posed the question.
Notably, when Saddiq seemed stumped for a response, Bella promptly provided an accurate answer, recognising that he manages stress through sports activities.
"She gave me the answer, and Bella was right," he said.
"I have my own ways, and sports are one of them. Not just one sport, but I enjoy swimming, cycling, and running.
"I start exercising early in the morning, after dawn. People aren't even out running then, so it's the best time for me to think.
"Sometimes my best ideas come during that time," he explained.
Besides sports, Saddiq mentioned that reading is another way he copes with stress.
"I also read books that interest me. Additionally, it's undeniable that spending time with people you regularly confide in helps alleviate stress," he said.
Previously, Saddiq and Bella garnered attention for their frequent appearances together, promoting Hari Raya clothing, climbing Mount Kinabalu, assisting those in need, and more.
Furthermore, netizens claimed the pair share a striking resemblance and have great chemistry, with their friendly relationship receiving widespread approval across Malaysia.
Syed Saddiq is single, while Bella is a single mother of two children, Mohamed Ayden Adrean, 8, and Ara Adreanna, 5, following her divorce to actor Aliff Aziz on June 13 last year.

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Monsters and memes: Labubu dolls ride China soft-power wave

Malaysian Reserve

16 hours ago

Malaysian Reserve

Monsters and memes: Labubu dolls ride China soft-power wave

SHANGHAI – Small, fuzzy and baring sharp teeth, Chinese toymaker Pop Mart's Labubu monster dolls have taken over the world, drawing excited crowds at international stores and adorning the handbags of celebrities such as Rihanna and Cher. Beijing-based Pop Mart is part of a rising tide of Chinese cultural exports gaining traction abroad, furry ambassadors of a 'cool' China even in places associated more with negative public opinion of Beijing such as Europe and North America. Labubus, which typically sell for around $40, are released in limited quantities and sold in 'blind boxes', meaning buyers don't know the exact model they will receive. The dolls are 'a bit quirky and ugly and very inclusive, so people can relate', interior designer Lucy Shitova told AFP at a Pop Mart store in London, where in-person sales of Labubus have been suspended over fears that fans could turn violent in their quest for the toys. 'Now everything goes viral… because of social media. And yes, it's cool. It's different.' While neighbouring East Asian countries South Korea and Japan are globally recognised for their high-end fashion, cinema and pop songs, China's heavily censored film and music industry have struggled to attract international audiences, and the country's best-known clothing exporter is fast-fashion website Shein. There have been few success stories of Chinese companies selling upmarket goods under their own brands, faced with stereotypes of cheap and low-quality products. 'It has been hard for the world's consumers to perceive China as a brand-creating nation,' the University of Maryland's Fan Yang told AFP. Pop Mart has bucked the trend, spawning copycats dubbed by social media users as 'lafufus' and detailed YouTube videos on how to verify a doll's authenticity. Brands such as designer womenswear label Shushu/Tong, Shanghai-based Marchen and Beijing-based handbag maker Songmont have also gained recognition abroad over the past few years. 'It might just be a matter of time before even more Chinese brands become globally recognisable,' Yang said. Through viral exports like Labubu, China is 'undergoing a soft-power shift where its products and image are increasingly cool among young Westerners', said Allison Malmsten, an analyst at China-based Daxue Consulting. Malmsten said she believed social media could boost China's global image 'similar to that of Japan in the 80s to 2010s with Pokemon and Nintendo'. Video app TikTok — designed by China's ByteDance — paved the way for Labubu's ascent when it became the first Chinese-branded product to be indispensable for young people internationally. Joshua Kurlantzick from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) told AFP that 'TikTok probably played a role in changing consumers' minds about China'. TikTok, which is officially blocked within China but still accessible with VPN software, has over one billion users, including what the company says is nearly half of the US population. The app has become a focus of national security fears in the United States, with a proposed ban seeing American TikTok users flock to another Chinese app, Rednote, where they were welcomed as digital 'refugees'. A conduit for Chinese social media memes and fashion trends, TikTok hosts over 1.7 million videos about Labubu. Cultural exports can 'improve the image of China as a place that has companies that can produce globally attractive goods or services', CFR's Kurlantzick told AFP. 'I don't know how much, if at all, this impacts images of China's state or government,' he said, pointing to how South Korea's undeniable soft power has not translated into similar levels of political might. While plush toys alone might not translate into actual power, the United States' chaotic global image under the Trump presidency could benefit perceptions of China, the University of Maryland's Yang said. 'The connection many make between the seeming decline of US soft power and the potential rise in China's global image may reflect how deeply intertwined the two countries are in the minds of people whose lives are impacted by both simultaneously,' she told AFP. At the very least, Labubu's charms appear to be promoting interest in China among the younger generation. 'It's like a virus. Everyone just wants it,' Kazakhstani mother-of-three Anelya Batalova told AFP at Pop Mart's theme park in Beijing. Qatari Maryam Hammadi, 11, posed for photos in front of a giant Labubu statue. 'In our country, they love Labubu,' she said. 'So, when they realise that the origin of Labubu is in China, they'd like to come to see the different types of Labubu in China.' –AFP

#NSTviral: This 'school bus' Mustang has netizens wishing they were children again [WATCH]

New Straits Times

20 hours ago

New Straits Times

#NSTviral: This 'school bus' Mustang has netizens wishing they were children again [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: A bright yellow Ford Mustang styled to look like a flashy "school bus" has caused a stir online, sparking laughter and igniting nostalgia after a video of it driving alongside a real school bus went viral. The video, posted by TikTok user @kaimohdroslan, shows the sleek sports car cruising casually on a highway beside a full-sized school bus. But what truly caught everyone's attention was its cheeky paint job, complete with bold stripes and the unmistakable look of a Gen Z-approved "school bus". "The aunties in the bus must be shocked, we're in the bus, but the one outside looks even cooler," the caption read. The short clip struck a chord with netizens, who flooded the comments section with jokes, admiration, and a touch of envy. Many praised the car owner's bold creativity and sense of humour, while others couldn't help but imagine what school life would have been like if that Mustang had been their daily ride. "If school buses looked like this, I'd happily go back to school," wrote one user, Ryu Min. Another quipped: "Suddenly I miss going to school — only if I could ride in this kind of bus. "This is what we call a Gen Z school bus," @Rain joked.

Alleycats' David Arumugam seen at local eatery, M'sians starstruck

The Sun

a day ago

The Sun

Alleycats' David Arumugam seen at local eatery, M'sians starstruck

MALAYSIANs were recently starstruck after a TikTok video of Alleycats frontman, Datuk David Arumugam, casually waiting his turn at a local eatery went viral. The 17-second clip, posted by TikTok user @falyqhikyleyangsebenar, captured the iconic singer standing in line, dressed in black jeans, a simple t-shirt, and his signature afro hairstyle — instantly recognisable to fans of the legendary Malaysian band. The post was captioned, 'Thank you for entertaining us all this time. Wishing you good health always, legend.' The video quickly gained traction, drawing hundreds of comments from netizens who were both delighted and surprised to see the music icon in such an everyday setting. ALSO READ: (Video) Alleycats were big in HK in 70s before finding stardom at home 'Sad... 2000s kids these days don't know who he is. If a bunch of 80s kids were there, they'd definitely swarm him for selfies,' wrote user Vijay D'Cruz. 'A one-of-a-kind legend — a golden voice loved by all Malaysians. Most Indian singers who perform Malay songs end up becoming stars. Wishing you good health always, Dato' David Arumugam,' another user commented. 'I once bumped into him in PJ. Someone called him and his ringtone was 'Hadiran Ombak Membelai Pantai', a song from Suara Kekasih. That's when I knew — it had to be David Arumugam. Go ahead, try calling him, bro,' shared Keris Pujangga.