Berita Faizal

SHAH ALAM: Hari Raya this year has a different meaning for the Akademi Fantasia graduates.

Nash Open House

For Faizal, Haziq, Amirul, Yazer, Nora, Akma, Amylea and Diddy from AF4, Hari Raya is not just about being with loved ones. They now know what it feels like to cut short their celebrations for stage shows in various parts of Malaysia.

Terengganu-born Faizal said his former routine during Hari Raya had been going to open houses and watching TV.

“But now its different, I have to entertain VIPs and people. There are a few shows lined up for me,” said Faizal, who did not even have time to shop for his baju raya because of his hectic schedule.

Despite their hectic schedule, the eight made sure they dropped in on their “mentor,” Nash of Lefthanded fame at the latter’s open house in Shah Alam.

“We’ve always admired Nash and are very fond of him. We thought of paying him a visit today as we wereall quite free,” said Amylea, who had an early Raya at home in Langkawi.

The affable Amirul said he could not but help feel melancholic during Ramadan as he was far away from his mother, who is in Kuching.

“I really missed my family during the fasting month but I made up for it by going home a week before Raya to savour all my favourite dishes like ayam pansuh (chicken cooked in bamboo), ayam masak merah and jam tarts,” said the 18-year-old.

Haziq is the lucky one as his parents come up from Kluang to visit him every weekend.

“It is one of my best Raya celebrations. We have had such a tight schedule. But I have no complaints,” said 18-year-old Haziq, whose voice has been likened to that of veteran Ahmad Jais.

Joining the eight AF4 graduates at Nash’s open house were seven tsunami orphans from Aceh, who were specially invited to spend their Raya in Malaysia.

Nash said it was a nice feeling sharing Hari Raya with the children from Aceh.

“As we age, Raya brings a different meaning altogether. The joy of seeing the happy faces of these kids, sharing what little I have with them and entertaining them, that is really something,” said Nash, who makes a point to hold an open house every Hari Raya.

Different Raya for AF4 bunch