
From seeking husband's permission to picking the perfect organiser: Girl group Elite shares tidbits ahead of September concert
The Elite Live '25 concert will see all five original members of the group — once dubbed the 'Malaysian Spice Girls' — take the stage on September 20 at Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).
Members confirmed to perform include Abby Abadi, Azza Zawari, Linda Rafar, Watie Sadali and Sasha Saidin.
The concert also marks the group's 30th anniversary.
Hubby's green light
The founder of Icon Entertainment, Iman Tang (middle). — Picture by Firdaus Latiff
During the concert's press conference in KL — attended by all the members except Watie — Elite shared that they had a lot to discuss among themselves before agreeing to the comeback concert.
This included seeking permission from their respective husbands, as all the members are now married.
Abby and Sasha had no issues gaining approval from their husbands. Sasha, who recently tied the knot with Dubai-based entrepreneur Sirhan Wahab in January 2024, said it was easy on her part as her husband has been supportive of her career.
However, Linda and Azza admitted it took them some time to convince their spouses.
According to Linda, who's married to local actor and director Syed Aiman, her husband didn't give his blessing at first. However, after she convinced him that this was her chance to reunite with her groupmates, he eventually agreed.
Meanwhile, Azza, who is married to local businessman Azlan Zulaily, said her situation was similar to Linda's. She promised her husband she would manage her time well, especially since they run a business together.
'I actually told him when we got married that he's marrying a member of Elite, and at that time, Elite had already slowed down compared to how packed our schedule was back in the day.
'So he needs to understand that he's married to a member of Elite — and Elite consists of all five of us. If I'm not there, then they're incomplete.
'When I told him all the girls were coming back, he gave me his blessing,' Azza said.
Dress accordingly
Members of local girl group Elite (with the exception of Watie Sadali) from left to right; Abby Abadi, Azza Zawari, Linda Rafar and Sasha Saidin. — Picture by Firdaus Latiff
The Elite Live '25 concert is organised by Icon Entertainment, which was founded by Iman Tang, a veteran in the local entertainment industry with over 30 years of experience.
According to Tang, the main theme for Elite's upcoming concert is Catwalk, and concertgoers are encouraged to dress their best, as there will be a red carpet session.
However, Tang reminded attendees to dress appropriately and to be themselves.
This was also a nod to the Anugerah Juara Lagu 39 (AJL39) incident earlier this year, where several social media influencers faced backlash for cross-dressing, drawing criticism from the public.
This included remarks from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), which stated that it is against Islamic teachings for Muslim men to dress as women.
'To be honest, I don't watch AJL, and I'm not sure what happened at the last one — but I think, if possible, just be who we are.
'Check our ICs (identification cards) and be who you are,' Tang said.
Only the best
Elite admitted that the overwhelming support they received from their surprise appearance during KRU's four-day concert in May played a major role in their decision to hold their own solo show.
Prior to being approached by Icon Entertainment, Linda revealed that several local event organisers had offered to host their concert. However, the Trauma singer said they ultimately decided to go with Tang because they had more confidence in him.
'When we received the offer from Tang, we had several discussions among ourselves, because this is not a small thing.
'The responsibility we carry is huge, and we didn't want to do something that could embarrass us.
'That's why preparations are important, and we're confident that Tang and his team will take care of us. That's why we didn't accept other offers — we chose Tang because he can also guide us on our appearance and vocals,' Linda said.
Azza added that aside from offers by event organisers, they've also received interest from big brands seeking collaborations since their KRU performance.
Formed in 1995, Elite was the first act signed under KRU Records. Over five years with the label, they released several albums including Catwalk, Tamparan, Idola, Selamat Tinggal Teman, G.I.G, and Merbahaya.
Tickets for Elite Live '25 will go on sale starting June 26 at 2pm, with prices ranging from RM268 to RM1,088.
For more ticketing information, please visit www.ticket2u.com.my
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Malay Mail
14 hours ago
- Malay Mail
How former newsreader Zehra Zambri finds peace, purpose in comeback as traditional singer
KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 — While many local singers prefer modern music trends, Zehra Zambri remains committed to championing and elevating traditional Malaysian rhythms through a contemporary approach to stay relevant with today's audience. The former newsreader said singing is not just a passion but an integral part of her identity, which she is determined to strengthen after a long hiatus from the entertainment industry. 'Many (supporters) told me to continue with traditional music because that's my strength. I'm also very passionate about this genre. Maybe, I can give it a contemporary touch in line with the times,' she told Bernama recently. Zehra, who recently made a comeback by participating in the 11th season of Astro reality show 'Gegar Vaganza', acknowledged that there are still fans and organisers who value her talent and identity as a singer rooted in traditional music. 'I feel that among the many artistes championing traditional music, my name is still mentioned. That's truly an honour for me,' said Zehra, who is currently planning the release of her latest single. The 'Semalakama' singer said she is aiming to collaborate with talented young composers like Ikhwan Fatanna and Hael Husaini, believing that their fresh musical sensibilities could breathe new life into traditional Malaysian rhythms. 'If the opportunity arises and they're open to having me interpret their work, why not?' she said. Zehra, who was a host on 'Selamat Pagi Malaysia' (RTM) for over two years, said she does not regret giving up her job as it has brought her peace and more freedom to focus on both her family and personal passions. 'In the past, it was stressful being tied to a hectic newsroom job. Now that I'm doing something I love, it doesn't feel like work. In fact, I'm earning more than I did before,' she said. Zehra also said she would not rule out returning to hosting, particularly for formal programmes or events, though she admitted that acting is not her forte. She recently took part in 'Konsert Simfoni Budaya 2', organised by the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. She said the large-scale performance was a 'motivational boost' to stay active in the music scene. — Bernama


Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
(Not) alone in the cinema: Moviegoer on X shares haunting experience
KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 — Malaysian users on X (formerly Twitter) were entertained by the story of a moviegoer who claimed he had been watching a film alone only to find he had unwanted company. The X user only known as Finn (@alchemitxt), an Indonesian, said that after attending a class they had decided to go watch a horror film KKN di Desa Penari at a mall in Kuala Lumpur. Then he noticed someone else, one lone presence, in the theatre besides himself. He wrote: 'The first jumpscare — and then i noticed someone sat at the very bottom row, near the screen (i was at row C). thought to myself alright, maybe this was someone who entered late. and then the second jumpscare happened — that person moved slightly upward.' when i studied in KL, i bought a ticket for an indonesian horror movie. i went there after my class (around 5 pmish and the movie was about 2 hrs). it was the seventh week of the screening so im the only one watching. at first i didnt mind until — finn | cf21 prep (@alchemitxt) July 25, 2025 As he watched the person getting closer, he decided something was very wrong and decided to leave the cinema. He asked a cinema usher asked if there was anyone else and was told he 'was the only one watching that night.' Finn's tweet has been liked 64,000 times with many other users sharing their own horror stories. Still, the X post might need to be taken with a grain of salt due to the mention of the film KKN di Desa Penari, a horror film that was created based on a viral X thread. The moral of the story? Everyone loves ghost stories on X.


Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Palestinian film ‘All That's Left of You' wins best film at Malaysia Golden Global Awards
KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 — The Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) held its annual Golden Global Awards (MGGA) ceremony at Zepp KL last night (Saturday) — an evening hosted by Alvin Anthons and Chrystina Ng, and graced by celebrities from both local and international scenes. Over 12 awards were presented to recipients which included Hong Kong screen legend Ti Lung, who proudly took the stage to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award and Indonesian icon Reza Rahadian accepting the Award for Excellent Achievement in Film. The night ended with the poignant Palestinian film All That's Left of You — written, directed, and produced by Cherien Dabis — being honored with the Best Film award, having also earned Best Screenplay earlier in the evening. Grateful for the recognition, the director expressed the significance of the moment. 'It's deeply meaningful because the story is one that remains untold. 'With this recognition, I hope the world will finally see it — that people will begin to recognise it. 'Because ultimately, everyone needs to know the story of what happened to Palestinians — or rather, what hasn't happened—for the past eight decades,' she said. The event also saw many filmmakers receiving recognition for outstanding work — Isabelle Stachtchenko took home Best Cinematography for the film titled Universal Language, while Lotfi Achour won Best Director for the Tunisian film Red Path. International actors and actresses shone on stage as well, with China's Han Haolin winning Best Supporting Actor for My Friend An Delie, Park Mi-Hyeon taking Best Supporting Actress for Winter in Sokcho, Mahmood Bakri receiving Best Actor for To A Land Unknown, and Juli Grabenhenrich Leo earning Best Actress for Paternal Leave. Let's not forget the New Hope Award — a testament to the profound and passionate humane message the film delivers, which was awarded to Red Path, and the Audience Choice Award going to a documentary, Island to Island, directed by Malaysian Lau Kek Huat. It was a memorable night for films, dedicated to MIFFest's mission of honouring movies beyond borders. While the awards ceremony has ended, MIFFest officially closes today, marking another milestone in this chapter of the festival's history. MIFFest president Joanne Goh has already set her sights on the future, expressing excitement for the ninth annual MIFFest, scheduled for 2026.