#SHOWBIZ: Yassin: All sorts of feelings were playing in my mind
Yassin, who had departed from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at 10.30am (3pm Malaysian time), said that the emotions he experienced during the flight were indescribable.
"When I was first held in lockup, on the second and third days, I truly felt like I would never return to Malaysia.
"Even one day felt like a month, two days felt like two months, and so on. But now, a day feels too short. It feels like only yesterday I went through everything," he said in an exclusive interview with Harian Metro.
Yassin, who was detained for six months at the Foreign Nationals Administration and Deportation Centre in Jeddah, initially had no idea how long he would be held there.
"I didn't know how long—a year, two, three, or four years? All sorts of feelings raced through my mind at the time," he explained.
"So, even when I boarded the plane, I was still sweating. I kept thinking, 'Am I really out?'
"When I arrived at KLIA and stepped onto the mainland, my feelings were truly a mix of emotions."
Continuing his story, Yassin recounted that he was initially placed in a severely overcrowded temporary lockup.
"The temporary lockup was an open area where anyone who had just been arrested, whether Arab or foreign, was mixed together," he said.
"I was there for eight days, waiting to see if anyone from the agency would come looking for me.
They didn't even know where I was; I had just vanished without a trace, disappeared from the radar."
This led to significant worry for his wife, Farah Waheeda.
Yassin explained that he was unable to contact her, despite their usual constant communication.
"If I disappeared for even a day, she would search for me, let alone something like this.
"She would have to answer to people. So, I was hoping the mutawif agency would come and visit."
"On the ninth day, they still hadn't arrived, and I was transferred.
"By the twelfth day, I thought they had returned home. I knew they were back and assumed they wouldn't still be in Jeddah," he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
11 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Senior citizens to shine in ‘Voice in the Shadows' Concert
Eliza (seated, centre) flanked by Irene (right) and Tan (left) with some of the competitors. KOTA KINABALU (Aug 3): A wave of nostalgia will sweep through Sabah as 70 senior citizens from across Malaysia take the stage for the Voice in the Shadows – Our Concert, a Mandarin, Hokkien and Cantonese singing competition celebrating veteran performers. The event will be held on August 17 at the Putera Ballroom in Bukit Padang, with a 4D stage setup to recreate a mini concert experience. A preliminary round will take place on August 16 to select the finalists. Organising chairperson Datuk Eliza Goh said during a press conference that participants hail from Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia. Adding star power to the event is veteran Malaysian songstress Irene Tan, a former Astro talent, who will be launching her fourth album titled One Seed. The album symbolises her effort to plant a seed for the competition to grow in Sabah. 'One of the goals is to promote tourism in Sabah, especially to senior citizens from Kuala Lumpur who have never been here,' said Eliza. 'We'll also be showcasing Sabah's beautiful tourist destinations to our guests.' The event also aims to foster closer interaction between participants from Sabah, West Malaysia and Sarawak. Notably, several businessmen — including a Musang King plantation owner — are expected to attend. Eliza shared that proceeds from the sale of 40 to 50 banquet tables will go toward helping Primary Six students who have excelled academically continue their education at private independent schools. 'All profits will support underprivileged pupils and will be managed by the Kian Kok Alumni Association,' she added. Also present at the press conference were co-organiser Dato' Tan Seng Huat and Irene Tan. The event is expected to be officiated by Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew.
The Star
12 hours ago
- The Star
Catch Malaysian film 'Angkat' in cinemas for just RM10; book before Aug 13
'Angkat' is set to start showing in cinemas on Aug 14. Photo: Feisk Productions/Instagram With cinema tickets becoming pricier, many Malaysians are hesitant to head to the big screen. But here's a deal that's hard to ignore: TGV Cinemas is offering RM10 tickets for the upcoming local film Angkat – that's half the usual price. This special promotion is available only until Aug 13 via the TGV app or website, and tickets can be redeemed once Angkat opens in selected cinemas nationwide on Aug 14. The dark comedy, produced by Feisk Productions and directed by Feisal Azizuddin, follows three estranged brothers who must transport their father's body back to their hometown for burial. When their van breaks down, the brothers are forced to carry their father on foot -- a journey that rekindles their bond and memories of the man who raised them. Producer Iskander Azizuddin shared via Instagram that this is the first time such an offer has been made for a Malaysian film. 'This is made possible through our collaboration with TGV Cinemas, who share our belief that local films should be accessible to all Malaysians,' he said.
New Straits Times
14 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Dikir barat singer plans to immortalise Thai prison experience through song
KOTA BARU: Malaysian singer Eda Ezrin, who is being held at Narathiwat Prison, wants to compose a song dedicated to the staff and inmates of the prison, once she is released. The 30-year-old dikir barat performer said the song would be based on her experience in the Thai prison. "Since my detention here, I have received kind and respectful treatment from the prison authorities as well as from the other inmates. "The Thai authorities, including ministers and members of parliament, have also made regular visits to check on me and other Malaysian detainees. "I am touched by their compassion and care. Every moment I've spent here will be immortalised in a song, which I plan to dedicate to all of them. "InsyaAllah, if I am released, I will work with a composer to create that song," she said during a brief interview with Malaysian media on Friday. The mother of two said she had learnt to speak Thai during her nine-month incarceration and placed her fate, along with that of her husband and four friends, in God's hands. "If it is destined that we remain here for one year or even 18 months, we accept it as a test by God," she said. Eda Ezrin said both of her young children understood the situation she and her husband were in and continued to give her emotional strength from afar. "Even though they are still young, my children told me they understood what is happening to me and their father. "During their visit last week, they told me not to be sad or worried about them. They said they are being well taken care of by their grandparents, and that gives me peace of mind," she added. Eda Ezrin, whose full name is Wan Norshaheeda Azlin Wan Ismail; her husband Mohd Affendi Ahmad, 35; and their friends; Eridieka Mohd Noor, 33; Mohamad Alif Deraman, 33; Nur Aida Mamat, 33; and Zuhaira Nasrin, 26; have been imprisoned in Thailand for nearly nine months. They were arrested for allegedly possessing 6,059 methamphetamine pills in Sungai Golok town on Nov 1, last year. In March, the Narathiwat Court acquitted them of jointly possessing the pills with intent to distribute, but allowed prosecutors to appeal the decision.
