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

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

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.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

It all boils down to dad-ication
It all boils down to dad-ication

The Star

time28 minutes ago

  • The Star

It all boils down to dad-ication

Modern fathers are breaking stereotypes and leading the charge at home PETALING JAYA: From triathlete trainers to content creators, some modern fathers are challenging norms and showing that being a great dad isn't just about the paycheck – it's about showing up. For Sean Long, the best reward is being able to see his children do well in life. The 61-year-old from Kuala Lumpur took the road less taken by being the primary caregiver to his now 19-year-old non-identical triplets Matthew, Nicholas and Kelly, who are also triathletes. 'I have worked as a realtor and also for major corporations in the tech industry while my wife is an auditor at a big international firm. It has been more than 12 years since I have held a traditional job. 'Frankly, I think the term 'stay-at-home dad' is inaccurate because in the last decade or so, more men have been taking on jobs in the gig industry or jobs with flexible work hours to support their children. 'As the primary caregiver, I cover the weekdays while my wife does the weekends. Since my children are triathletes, a lot of their needs revolve around running classes and such. 'I am glad I undertook this role because being present during all those moments matters. This is part of the rewards of parenthood which many parents may not be able to experience,' he said. Fathers Day will be celebrated tomorrow. Not all heroes wear capes: Mohamed Salahuddin takes care of son Tashrif while working as a music video director. In terms of the challenges of being a primary caregiver, Long said some of the toughest aspects include the disconnection from the conventional career path and witnessing peers climb the corporate ladder. However, he noted that as long as the parent is happy to be a primary caregiver, such thoughts should not matter. Mohamed Salahuddin, 42, from Klang, starts his day at 5am with six children in tow. It has been 13 years since he decided to be the stay-at-home parent while his wife works as a human resources executive. 'I still work as a content creator, like TikTok and video production, but I am the one who wakes the kids and sends them to school. I also send my wife to work, then I continue to care for our youngest child, who is seven months old. 'I manage my work by setting up appointments at night, and handling the kids and housework during the day. 'There is a stereotype tied to being 'Mr Mama' as we are often considered to be unsuccessful, unemployed or lazy, but the truth is that handling the household is a never-ending job. 'We don't have a support system and don't really get to share our experience with others, which can lead to suppressed emotions or even depression,' he said in an interview. Picture perfect: Sah with wife Sher, son Charlie and daughter Arabella. For freelancer Sah Henn-Wei, 41, from Subang Jaya, choosing to become a primary caregiver was a way to help his financial planner wife, who was having trouble caring for their daughter due to post-partum depression in 2016. 'Then, my son came along and the load just doubled. I decided to leave my full-time job as an art director at an agency as the working hours were not flexible. 'It wasn't a hard decision to make as my own father was a teacher and my main caregiver as a child,' he said, adding that his gifted daughter also requires more attention so having flexible hours is a bonus. Sah wakes up at 5.30am, gets the kids ready for school and does the house chores while they are away. He then gets some of his work done, prepares lunch and dinner, and then puts the kids to bed. Asked about challenges, he points to not having many friends to talk to and making sure the household runs smoothly. 'Having to put my career aside to do this has made me doubt my choices many times, especially when I see my friends become heads of companies and jet setting around the world. Yes, the adage that 'comparison is the thief of joy' rings true. 'But being able to be home and be there for your kids while they are growing up has been the best feeling ever. I wouldn't trade it for the world,' he added.

Punk-cute Labubu builds global emotional bridges, one grin at a time
Punk-cute Labubu builds global emotional bridges, one grin at a time

Borneo Post

time2 hours ago

  • Borneo Post

Punk-cute Labubu builds global emotional bridges, one grin at a time

A woman takes a selfie with art toys in a new Pop Mart offline store in Bangkok, Thailand on July 5, 2024. – Xinhua photo BEIJING (June 14): When the same toothy little monster appears dangling on Rihanna's purse and in David Beckham's social media post, and its hashtag racks up over 1 billion views on TikTok, it's clear this designer toy's global takeover is complete. Labubu, a spiky-toothed, mischievous imp manufactured in factories in south China's Dongguan and marketed by Beijing-based toy giant Pop Mart, is telling a Chinese IP globalisation story in an unexpected way. Originally priced at 99 yuan (about US$14), Labubu's 3.0 blind boxes have vanished from shelves at home, while resale markets see common variants triple in value and rare editions surge 30-fold to 3,000 yuan. This nine-toothed creature has also sparked a global frenzy, from Los Angeles to London, Milan to Tokyo, snaking queues form outside Pop Mart stores worldwide – some stores even witnessing frenzied scrambles for the coveted figurines. JPMorgan has even described Labubu as 'the next Hello Kitty.' Under Labubu's spell, Pop Mart's 'The Monsters' franchise saw revenues soar past 3 billion yuan in 2024, a staggering 726.6 per cent leap, crowning it as Pop Mart's top-performing IP. Investor enthusiasm surged in tandem: Pop Mart's share price has surged, lifting its market capitalisation to over HK$300 billion (approximately US$38 billion). The boom also catapulted founder Wang Ning into the ranks of China's wealthiest. This surge is no mere accident. Beneath the playful craze lies a deeper shift in youthful consumption: a shift from utility to emotional resonance, from price tags to personal identity. A monster of emotional resonance Created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, Labubu defies traditional cuteness. With large ears and a fixed grin featuring nine pointy teeth, its oddball charm resonates with a young generation that sees itself in its mischievous, soft-hearted persona. 'It's weird-looking, and that leering grin borders on creepy,' said Dingding, a senior at Zhejiang University. 'But that's exactly why I love its defiant attitude.' This 'rebellious cuteness' mirrors the emotional complexity of modern youth. Cheng Fei, a Shanghai-based indie designer, said that in an era flooded with cuteness, Labubu's deliberate anti-aesthetic has become its strongest selling point. While Labubu's design sparks instant emotional connection, the blind box model adds emotional suspense: you never know what you'll get, and the thrill of unboxing a hidden edition feeds the dopamine loop. Compared to traditional toys, these collectibles offer more emotional value. Emotional spending is a growing trend among young people worldwide. A China Consumers Association report noted that emotional release is now a key driver in the purchasing decisions of young people. 'The rush of tearing open the box – it's like betting on fate,' said Guangzhou-based buyer A Yuan, who once drew a hidden edition on her first try. 'It felt like my luck had turned.' From factory to cultural frontier Labubu has helped shatter the stereotype of Chinese manufacturing as merely cheap and functional. While China has long been the world's factory, few domestic toy brands had global recognition – until now. Labubu's explosive popularity today not only marks a leap in China's design capabilities but also signals the emergence of Chinese brands in the global race to build super IPs. Wang has said he wants to create 'the world's Pop Mart, not anyone's copycat'. Labubu's runaway success appears to have created a blueprint for this globalisation strategy. Exporting Chinese IP has long been seen as challenging due to cultural and aesthetic differences. But Labubu offers a workaround – its design has 'low cultural thresholds', making it emotionally accessible to diverse audiences, according to a cultural industry researcher. Labubu is not tied to a fixed storyline, allowing fans to project their own meaning onto it. 'Many young people are telling their own stories through Labubu,' Wang said. The open-ended narrative also fuels user-generated content and a secondary market, from custom outfits to beauty treatments like fake lashes and rhinestone teeth. Gu Huijie, who runs a business in Yiwu specialising in doll accessories and outfits, said: 'Over half of our orders come from overseas, and the vast majority of our products are headed to the United States.' She attributes the surge in demand to the launch of the new Labubu series. Notably, Labubu's global expansion is deeply localised. Pop Mart has released special Labubu editions customised for different countries, including the Merlion edition for Singapore, the edition dressed in traditional Thai attire for Thailand, and the matador edition for Spain. These one-market-one-plan efforts retain the IP's core identity while catering to local tastes. Labubu's rise from a niche collectible to a cultural icon exemplifies China's growing creative confidence. Nevertheless, the country's creative prowess has transcended the designer toy boom, with breakthroughs reshaping global industries. The animated blockbuster 'Ne Zha 2' has soared into the top five worldwide box office earners; DeepSeek is reshaping the global AI landscape; 'Love and Deepspace', a Chinese-developed hit mobile game, has climbed bestseller charts in multiple countries – all proving 'Created in China' is no longer playing catch-up, but setting the pace. – Xinhua

Former HK artiste Don Li quits showbiz, clarifies rumours about becoming a monk
Former HK artiste Don Li quits showbiz, clarifies rumours about becoming a monk

The Star

timea day ago

  • The Star

Former HK artiste Don Li quits showbiz, clarifies rumours about becoming a monk

Former Hong Kong singer-actor Don Li clarified that his time as a monk was only temporary. Photos: Don Li/Instagram Former Hong Kong singer-actor Don Li has announced his exit from the entertainment industry. In a recent TikTok video, Li, 43, said he hasn't pursued singing professionally for several years and only posts covers of old songs occasionally on the platform. He also took to Instagram to share more about his decision to step away from the spotlight, adding that he's currently working hard to be the best version of himself. 'I hope that my life journey will be quiet. I want to concentrate on work, spend more time with my family, connect with like-minded friends and travel. That's enough for me,' he wrote. Li also addressed the rumours about him becoming a monk, which surfaced earlier in February after he posted photos of himself sporting a shaved head, dressed in monastic robes. The Port Of Call (2015) star clarified that his time as a monk was only temporary instead of a lifelong commitment. 'It's a solemn and serious ritual, so I won't explain too much. Life's journey is divided into many stages, and I currently like myself the most at this stage,' he wrote. Li kickstarted his entertainment career in 2003 after emerging as a finalist in a talent show. He teamed up with singer Mandy Chiang to form a duet act in 2005, but the pair parted ways in 2007 to pursue their music careers as solo artistes.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store