最新報導的部落格

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Justin Timberlake will embark on an international tour in October - his first in six years - and will release 10 new songs at the end of September, concert promoter Live Nation said on Monday.

The 20/20 Experience, the singer's first album in seven years, was released in March and topped the U.S. album charts for three consecutive weeks.

He is now planning to release 10 news songs, and out-takes from the March release, in a second installment of The 20/20 Experience on September 30, record label RCA said.

The North American leg of Timberlake's tour will begin on October 31 in Montreal and finish on February 10, 2014, in Omaha, Nebraska. It will follow an abbreviated summer stadium tour with rapper Jay-Z.

The Suit & Tie singer will perform mostly in mid-sized cities, such as St. Louis, Indianapolis and Edmonton, that his Legends Of The Summer tour with Jay-Z did not cover.

Live Nation has yet to announce the European, Australian and South American tour dates.

The release of The 20/20 Experience was the first new music from Timberlake, 32, since 2006 after the former N'Sync boy spent several years focusing on his movie career, launching his own record label, and marrying actress Jessica Biel.

Midwesterner Nick Carraway is lured into the lavish world of his neighbour, Jay Gatsby. Soon enough, however, Carraway will see through the cracks of Gatsby's nouveau riche existence, where obsession, madness, and tragedy await.

The Great Gatsby with Leo DiCaprio opens in cinemas here on 16 May. We have 50 pairs of tickets to give away for a special screening on 15 May.

All you have to do is print this page and bring it along with you to our redemption table at GSC Mid Valley. Please see details below.

Please note that tickets will be given on a first come, first served basis. Each person will be given only one pair of tickets.

Redemption Details

Date: 15 May 2013 (Wednesday)

Time: 8.30pm

Venue: GSC Mid Valley

Screening Details

Date: 15 May 2013 (Wednesday)

Time: 9.30pm

Venue: GSC Mid Valley

Rules & Regulations

1. This redemption is open to all eCentral fans.

2. Print out the contest page and redeem it at the venue given in this article.

3. Each page entitles you to two movie tickets only. Each person is allowed to redeem only once.

4. Tickets are given out on a first come, first served basis.

5. Queue-jumping and reserving places in line during the redemption are strictly prohibited. The organizers reserve the right to refuse tickets to anyone found doing so.

6. Tickets are not exchangeable for cash.

7. This movie is not yet rated.. Movie ratings will strictly apply for this movie. The organizers reserve the right to refuse entry to the cinema hall to those not within the permitted age limit. No exceptions will be made at any time for any reason.

8. I hereby expressly consent to the collection, collation, use and/or disclosure of all my personal data by Star Publications (M) Berhad for the purposes of the The Great Gastby contest.

9. For enquiries, please e-mail ecentralmy@gmail.com

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - One of Justin Bieber's hit songs is the target of a US$10 million copyright infringement lawsuit that also accuses Bieber's mentor, R&B singer Usher, of funneling the song to the teen pop star.

R&B singer Devin Copeland, known professionally as De Rico, and songwriter Mareio Overton filed a lawsuit last week in U.S. District Court in Virginia alleging that they came up with the song Somebody To Love.

Bieber, who is managed by one of Usher's business ventures, released Somebody To Love in 2010 with Usher also singing on the recording. The song peaked at No. 15 on the U.S. Billboard chart.

Copeland and Overton allege that Somebody To Love has the same title, time signature, underlying beat pattern as well as similar chords and share similar lyrics, including the chorus "I ... need somebody to love."

"There is essentially a zero probability for the number of points of congruence between the two versions of Somebody To Love," Copeland and Overton said in the lawsuit.

Bieber (pictured with Usher), songwriter Heather Bright and the Stereotypes are credited as the writers of Bieber's Somebody To Love.

Messages left with attorneys for Bieber and Usher were not immediately returned.

Copeland and Overton allege that music scouts presented Somebody To Love to Usher in 2009, and that Usher's mother, who also serves as his manager at times, asked Copeland to re-record the song and go on tour with Usher.

After not hearing back from Usher, Copeland alleges in the lawsuit he heard his song being sung by Bieber on the radio.

Usher, who first recorded the song as a demo for his 2010 album Raymond v. Raymond, later recorded a remix version with Bieber singing backing vocals on the song.

The lawsuit lists 19 defendants, including record label Universal Music Corp, a unit of French media company Vivendi.

NEWARK, New Jersey (Reuters) - A U.S magistrate judge sentenced Grammy-winning hip hop artist Lauryn Hill to three months in prison, three months in home confinement and a US$60,000 fine on Monday for federal tax evasion.

Hill pleaded guilty last year to three counts of failing to file tax returns on more than US$1.8 million of income between 2005 and 2007 and faced up to three years in prison.

Hill has attributed her failure to pay taxes to years of pressure she experienced as a recording star while raising six children, forcing her to go underground and stay out of the public eye.

On the eve of her scheduled sentencing, Hill paid US$504,000 in back taxes to the Internal Revenue Service and another US$420,000 to the state of New Jersey, her attorney told the court. She still owes another US$285,000 in interest and penalties.

"When the government is asking for 36 months and the judge gives three months, I think the judge gave a fair and reasonable sentence," Hill's attorney Nathan Hochman told reporters.

Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 30 months to the maximum of 36 months.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Madeline Cox Arleo cited Hill's lack of a criminal record, her six children and her repayment of the back taxes as mitigating factors in the sentence.

Hill must report on or before July 8. Her attorney asked the court to assign the native of South Orange, New Jersey, to a facility close to home. The three months of home confinement following the prison stay is part of one year of supervised probation.

Hill told the court she pulled away from society because her life was in crisis, received veiled threats and was blacklisted because she did not conform to the norms of the music industry.

"I was being perceived as a cash cow, not a person," Hill said.

A new single by Hill, her first in several years, called Neurotic Society, was posted on iTunes on Friday.

"Here is a link to a piece that I was 'required' to release immediately, by virtue of the impending legal deadline," her Tumblr social media page said on Saturday.

Her lawyers confirmed that she signed a new contract with Sony Worldwide Entertainment and was working on her first album of new material in more than a decade.

Hill's seminal 1998 solo album The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill won the singer, a former member of the Fugees rap trio, five Grammy awards.

Soul sublime: Simone, who is the daughter of Nina Simone, shined on with her own songcraft and sass at the International Jazz Day celebration at Universiti Malaya.

IT’S been two years since the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) officially designated April 30 as International Jazz Day to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people all over the globe.

Finally, jazz is getting some recognition. Last Tuesday, jazz musicians took to stage to perform gigs and concerts in various parts of the world.

The music was celebrated in every one of the planet’s 196 nations, with events coordinated by Unesco, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz and the individual countries. This year Istanbul, Turkey, was chosen as the site for the main event, and featured more than 40 jazz greats from 15 countries in an all-star concert.

For 24 hours, celebrations took place across the world, through workshops, jazz talks and jam sessions, from Beirut to Beijing, Dakar to Rio and Kuala Lumpur to Barcelona. In Malaysia, the day-long event was celebrated in Universiti Malaya with master classes, educational events and performances by local and international artistes.

Among the line-up of artistes who performed were the UM Big Band, Lokman Aslam, Dzamira Dzafri, John Thomas Trio, David Helbock Trio, French Sumo, Patrick Terbrack Quartet and the KL Jazz Project.

The best was saved for the last and these included Nicole Henry, the Roger Biwandu Quartet from France and Simone, the only daughter of the legendary singer, songwriter and civil rights activist, Nina Simone.

The sultry Henry’s voice was clear and devoid of the excessive scat that many ambitious jazz singers tend to shoehorn into their performances. Every bit polished, her phrasing was impeccable and delivery, effortless. She mixed songs from her new CD and older masterpieces.

Henry gave a jazzy edge to Elton John’s classic, Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, and made a ballad out of Bob Marley’s Waiting In Vain. Her final rendition of Aretha Franklin’s Spirit In The Dark, had the crowd screaming for more but time was up as each artiste was only allocated a 75-minute slot.

Drummer Biwandu and his team took the night up a notch with their brand of jazz laced with African soul, rhythm and blues and pop rock. His trumpeter was in his element with his skill on the instrument. The crisp sound and strong chops, especially in Generation, A Song For My Kids and Herbie Hancock’s Bedtime Voyage easily put him in the ranks of trumpet greats out there.

To end the night, Simone took to stage and what a dynamic personality she had! An accomplished Broadway actress (Aida, Lion’s King, Rent) and vocalist, Simone has made it her business to be a dutiful gatekeeper to her mother’s legacy for many years. And there was no better way to start her set than to belt out her mum’s famous Black Is The Colour (Of My True Love’s Hair), with a twist of funk.

“My mother wouldn’t have sung it like that, but I’m from the younger generation, so I had to spice it up!” she joked.

She lent some pizzazz to the night with her powerful vocals in the rendition of Summertime, Do I Move You and Dysfunction, which she wrote herself. Simone also gave an interesting spin to Bill Withers’ Ain’t No Sunshine, by changing the lyrics. The audience was thrilled as she constantly engaged them to participate and provided many laughs.

Surprisingly, the sound system at Dewan Tunku Chancellor, where most of the performances were held, held up that night, thanks to the sound engineers from France.

Simply heaven: Italian pop tenor Andrea Bocelli charming the crowd at the Putra Indoor Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

Italian pop tenor Andrea Bocelli kept his fans thrilled with a fine concert packed with multiple encores.

WE don’t get to see tenors perform everyday so when it was announced that Andrea Bocelli would perform here together with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO), fans started purchasing tickets immediately.

Alas, the concert date clashed with polling day for GE13 and like me, there were many others in two minds over attending the concert or waiting for the polls results. Thankfully, organisers JS Concert Productions decided to go ahead with the concert while fans kept their mobiles in hand the entire time, monitoring election results via social media networks.

For the 5,000 fans who attended the performance, it was an unforgettable night. Pop tenor Bocelli gave his all at the Putra Indoor Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur last Sunday. It was the last stop in his Asia Tour…With Passione, which coincides with the 2013 release of his 14th studio album, Passione.

The MPO was conducted by Marcello Rota, who has known Bocelli for 18 years and collaborated with him on numerous occasions. Rota’s job is to fly to the concert venue ahead of time and rehearse with the local orchestra before the tenor hit town.

“Bocelli likes places with hot weather. We just concluded a concert in Abu Dhabi. Conducting operatic pieces is difficult, but Bocelli wants this and he does it with passion,” revealed Rota at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur earlier.

With a musical career spanning close to 20 years and over 80 million in record sales, the blind Bocelli, 54, has been described as the voice of the new millennium. His break came in 1992 when he passed an audition to record Miserere, which he eventually recorded as a duet with the late tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

Since then, his solo career has made him an icon in the classical crossover genre.

His Kuala Lumpur show also featured soprano Sabina Cvilak, guitar duo Carisma and vocal quartet Div4s as support acts. But the masses paid top ringgit (RM2,888 for top tier diamond seats!) to watch Bocelli, the headliner. The man didn’t disappoint his following, which included local fans and also regional ones (from a keen crowd from Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei).

Bocelli, looking dapper, started singing the moment he was escorted on stage.

The first half of the concert was purely classical in repertoire, including La Donna E Mobile from Verdi’s opera, Rigoletto, and Brindisi from Verdi’s La Traviata, which caught the attention of the audience.

Interestingly, while Bocelli was singing, there were snippets of the respective operas flashing behind on a screen so our gaze was riveted to that. Bocelli starred in every one, including Tosca, Romeo Et Juliette and La Boheme.

The audience warmed up in the second half as they related better to the songs. First to perform were the four soprano ladies, Div4s with a number from Romeo Et Juliette before they came back on later for the Godfather theme.

Bocelli then showed his classical crossover talent in Vieni Sul Mar. In Mamma, you could actually feel his simmering love for his mother.

The guitar duo Carisma were exquisite in their Cavatina (from Deer Hunter) interpretation and later on, showed their fingering dexterity in the next number.

The tenor then played the piano while he sang Era Gia Tutto Previsto and La Vie En Rose, with excerpts performed by Edith Piaf on the screen.

Bocelli ended with Canto Della Terra from Vivere and the audience was smitten. They gave him a standing ovation as he took his bow and was escorted off stage with the rest of the performers.

The night wouldn’t have been complete without an encore and Bocelli came back out to sing Love In Portofino from his latest album, followed by Quizas, Quizas, Quizas, which he originally recorded with Jennifer Lopez but sang with Div4s in Kuala Lumpur.

Again, the crowd asked for more and he came back to sing Con Te Partirò (Time To Say Goodbye), his signature song which launched him to fame. Together with Cvilak (who came close to Sarah Brightman), the audience sang or hummed along because it was a song that practically everyone was familiar with. Another standing ovation was in order.

Just when the audience assumed the encore was over, Bocelli came on stage yet again to deliver Nessun Dorma from Pucini’s Turandot. My fellow press member turned around to ask, “Just how many encores is he going to do?!”

It was an apt ending which displayed Bocelli at his best.

My only grouse: He didn’t speak a word to the audience. Not even a hello. The only time he said something was when he forgot the order of songs and went from the piano to centre stage and back. All he said was, “Sorry I made a mistake.”

For Bocelli, he came, he sang, he conquered and left. It was business as usual.

Paul Walker stars in Vehicle 19, a film about an ex-convict who finds himself in a bit of trouble when he gets into a hired car.

There are plenty of things that can go wrong when hiring a rental car – hygiene being a big issue for most of us. For Michael (Paul Walker), however, things take a turn for the unusual when he finds a gun under the seat and a handphone in the glove compartment of the mini-van he hired. Worse, the phone rings and a stranger on the other end is not at all happy with Michael.

The odd events keep piling up when, stuck in a traffic jam, Michael finds another surprise in the car – an unconcious woman, bound and gagged. This is the scenario Michael – an ex-convict who wants no more trouble with the law – finds himself in in the film Vehicle 19. What he does next makes up for the content of the film.

With Vehicle 19, director/writer Mukunda Michael Dewil wanted to make Michael’s internal journey just as exciting as what’s happening around him. In the production notes, Dewill said: “I wanted to take (the audience) on a journey with a man who has to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles – and not just the external obstacles but the internal ones, the life-long bad habits, the conditioning, the embarrassing, weak parts of us.” Actor Walker – who is probably best known for his role in the Fast & Furious franchise – took on the role because he likes playing guys who have all these bumps on the road, with seemingly no way out. The handsome actor said of his character: “He’s screwed up a lot in life. I think a bit of a raincloud follows him around wherever he goes – no matter how hard he tries to do right, it always ends up wrong.”

As a highly skilled driver, who races cars for a hobby, Walker did almost all of the driving in the film (precision steering, weaving in and out of traffic, sliding up on a curb and smashing through scaffolding).

About the only thing Walker left to the stunt drivers was flipping the car over on its side. But one thing that remained challenging for this experienced driver was filming in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Walker recalled: “There were sections where it called for empty roads and we’d block off alleyways, but there were a lot of times when I was driving in downtown Johannesburg in rush hour and I had (camera crew) crawling all over my van.

“I’m literally weaving in and out of traffic. I remember driving against oncoming traffic at a pretty high speed at one point and the gaps started out pretty wide but as you start finding the flow, it’s a dance, you start getting closer and closer. You’re avoiding head-on collisions by inches!

“Because the camera is on me, I have to act ... So I’m driving and acting simultaneously and the guys who are coming head on towards me see this panicked face and they’re used to seeing cool, precise stunt drivers in my place.

“At one point, a couple of guys at the end said, ‘Man, you really got into it, there were times when we thought we were going to hit you!’ To me, that’s the biggest compliment.”

> Vehicle 19 opens in cinemas nationwide on May 9.

HONG KONG: French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius Sunday honoured Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai, appointing him a Commander of France's Order of Arts and Letters.

The minister presented Wong with the medallion of the order at the French consul's residence in Hong Kong.

The decoration "has even more significance because it comes from France, the spiritual home of cinema where liberty, equality and freedom of expression and love are the main fundamentals", said the 56-year-old director, who has won numerous awards in France.

Wong won the Best Director award at the 1997 Cannes film festival for "Happy Together". He picked up a Cesar, the French equivalent of an Oscar, in 2001 for "In the Mood for Love", a film which became a cult classic in France.

Wong also headed the jury at Cannes in 2006, the first Chinese director to do so.

His latest film "The Grandmasters", which has just been released in France, is based on the life of Ip Man, a martial arts master who trained actor Bruce Lee.

Fabius arrived Sunday in Hong Kong for a visit before leaving Tuesday for Japan.-AFP

Exciting times: Mayday’s Ashin (extreme left) and Guai Shou (extreme right) with 988 DJ Hau Min and Yi Hui.

988 wants you to win a car. But first, you must be their Secret Agent.

HERE’s a chance for you to win RM100 as well as a car in 988’s Secret Tune contest. 988 listeners who are able to call in and correctly guess the song and name of artiste will win RM100. The winner is then selected as the station’s “Secret Agent” to be in the running to win a brand new Toyota Camry worth RM150,000.

Secret Tune radio contest runs from now until May 24. Listeners who are selected as “Secret Agent” are invited to Empire Shopping Gallery, Subang Jaya, on May 26 for the final showdown. The last one standing wins the car!

Contest runs Monday to Friday, from 10am to 10pm. So, stay tuned to 988 for the cue to call. You might just be the lucky one who drives away with a brand new Toyota Camry.

Also on 988 this week

The Feature (Monday, Tuesday, 9am-10am)

As the prices of property in Kuala Lumpur are constantly on the rise, just how long do most people have to save up to buy a house?

Join 988 for an in-depth discussion on terrace houses, condos, second-hand properties and more.

Morning Up VIP (Wednesday-Friday, 9am-10am)

The VIP for this week is funnyman Bu Xue Liang, better known as A-Liang. A famous host, actor and singer in Taiwan, A-Liang is well-known for his memorable line: “You will leave traces wherever you go.”

Music Gets Crazy (Monday-Friday, 1pm-4pm)

Catch Asia’s A-list pop idols in Stars Guide this week namely dancing queen Jolin Tsai Yi Lin, multi-lingual singer Calvin Chen IJue and drama idol Joseph Cheng Yuan Chang.

Music VIP (Monday-Friday, 2pm)

Taiwanese alternative rock band Mayday is the epitome of positive energy and creative fervour.

Get to know more about this five-man band.

For more information, log on to www.988.com.my. 988 is a subsidiary of Star Radio Group.

Pop queen Siti Nurhaliza is set to dazzle fans at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas this July.

CELEBRATE Malaysian pop star Datuk Siti Nurhaliza’s illustrious career as she performs alongside the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) in July.

The Pahang native ventured into showbiz back in 1995 after winning the talent competition RTM Bintang HMI.

Soft and wispy at times, strong and commanding at others, Siti’s voice would later go on to win the regional singing competition, Voice Of Asia, held in Kazakhstan.

She has since earned more than 200 accolades and not forgetting the golden opportunity to perform at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall, London, in 2005.

The sum of her achievements landed her yet another accolade when she entered the Malaysia Book Of Records for being the country’s most awarded artiste.

And she is showing no signs of slowing down.

The 34-year-old vocalist released her first English album, All Your Love, a little over a year ago.

Follow the singer’s nearly two-decade long musical journey on July 5–7, at 8.30pm in the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, Kuala Lumpur.

Witness the MPO’s symphonic interpretations of some of Siti’s biggest pop tunes such as Muara Hati, Purnama Merindu, Cindai, Biarlah Rahsia, Hanya Dia, Seindah Biasa, Badarsila, Kau Kekasihku and Di Taman Teman.

Tickets, priced at RM400, RM330, RM250 and RM150, are available via email booking (dfp_boxoffice@pertronas.com.my) and phone booking (03-20517007).

Visit mpo.com.my for more information.

LOS ANGELES: Super-hero blockbuster sequel "Iron Man 3" smashed to the top at the US box office with a mega $175.3 million take - the second best opening weekend ever - industry estimates showed Sunday.

The film starring Robert Downey Jr as the title character now sits behind just "The Avengers" - another Walt Disney comic book superhero flick - which earned $207.4 million when it opened a year ago.

"'Iron Man 3' is definitely playing like a pseudo-sequel to last summer's mightiest flick, 'The Avengers,'" said Exhibitor Relations analyst Jeff Bock.

It "may be the top movie of the summer, unless the 'Man of Steel'" - an updated take on the ever-popular Superman story set for release in June - "has anything to say about it.

The US opening of Iron Man 3 demolished the franchise's previous debuts, with $98 million for the first movie and $128 million for the sequel, according to industry tracker Exhibitor Relations.

In second place for this weekend's box office was action-comedy "Pain and Gain," starring Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, with $7.6 million in ticket sales, Exhibitor Relations said.

Not far behind was "42," a biopic about trailblazing black baseball star Jackie Robinson, which made $6.2 million

The fourth spot, with $5.8 million, went to "Oblivion," the post-apocalyptic action flick starring Tom Cruise, followed by "The Croods" - a stone-age cartoon - in fifth, with $4.2 million.

"The Big Wedding" - a star-studded comedy featuring Robert De Niro, Katherine Heigl, Diane Keaton and Robin Williams - came in sixth place, taking in $3.9 million.

"Mud," a coming-of-age story starring Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon, earned an estimated $2.2 million, for seventh place, the film's first week in the top ten after going into wide release a week earlier.

And in eighth, Walt Disney's 3D fantasy adventure flick "Oz the Great and Powerful" earned $1.8 million, for a nine-week total of $228.6 million.

"Scary Movie 5," the latest installment in the slasher-comedy franchise, took the ninth spot with $1.4 million.

Rounding out the top 10 at $1.3 million was "The Place Beyond the Pines," starring Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper in a drama about a motorcycle stunt rider who resorts to bank robbery to provide for his lover and their newborn child. -AFP

TV newsrooms across Malaysia are gearing up for, arguably, the most highly-anticipated general election to date.

Television newsrooms across the country kick into high gear to provide Malaysians with the best news coverage on polling day.

IT’S the moment of truth. By the end of today, candidates who have been hitting the campaign trail over the past two weeks will finally learn if those gruelling, full-day walkabouts, dialogues and ceramah have paid off.

But politicians aren’t the only ones who have been breaking their backs, trying to win the hearts of Malaysians. Television newsrooms across the country have been working months in advance to provide the most comprehensive coverage, in a bid to draw in the highest viewership on polling day.

Star2 stepped inside some of Malaysia’s most well-known TV stations to uncover the workings of a newsroom and find out what it means to prep for, arguably, the most highly-anticipated general election to date.

From the ground up

It sounds like a logistical nightmare, to say the least. With 222 parliamentary seats and 505 state seats spread across 13 states and three federal territories, TV newsrooms have to deliver the latest results and news from each of these constituencies to living rooms – and mind you, all these in real-time.

Ntv7’s 7th Edition producer and news anchor Jasmine Abu Bakar described how the election results are gathered: “We have established a link with the Election Commission (EC). When the votes are tabulated in each constituency, they will immediately share the results with us.”

Nevertheless, the results provided by the EC are just facts and figures. The sentiment of the voters, reactions from the winning and losing candidates, and the overall atmosphere in a constituency can only be captured by broadcast reporters on the ground.

“Reporters positioned at the various polling stations will send their stories to the command centre in the newsroom. Here, there is a work station and a personnel in charge who gathers the news from each state,” Jasmine said in an interview at Sri Pentas, Petaling Jaya.

Media Prima (which operates TV3, Ntv7, 8TV and TV9) has dispatched a total of 196 broadcast reporters and crew members to constituencies throughout Malaysia according to TV3 head of news and veteran news anchor Nasharudin Tajudin. This does not include a production and technical team of around 200 people stationed at the main hub.

“When news arrives at the command centre, news editors will be on standby to pick out the most interesting and newsworthy report. A producer will then be assigned to develop the news report further and ensure that it is ready to be aired,” Nasharudin explained.

A look at RTM’s GE13 operations room where a team of researchers provide data and analysis to the newsroom.

Jasmine also mentioned the news team has started planning for the May 5 coverage since August last year. The programming block for both TV3 and Ntv7 begins at 6pm right up to the moment the new Government is formed. As the news stations have six hours or more worth of content to fill, panelists are invited to speak on topics such as the influence of the new media, the rise of young voters and other hot issues to accompany the election results.

RTM deputy director of production under the TV programme division Norliza Mohd Ali said that most, if not all, of her staff are on duty on May 5.

She added that RTM’s TV1 news crew has been stationed at 20 locations all over Malaysia and is responsible for delivering live feed to the main studio in Angkasapuri, Kuala Lumpur.

“Close to 200 people will be on duty and they are made up of reporters, technical crew, backup staff and even the data entry team. Of course, our focus is to try and deliver the results as fast as possible. But we also want to make sure that we’re reliable and accurate,” she said.

As expected, emotions will be riding high on the night when results go out.

“Yes, especially when you’re doing a live news programme where anything can happen. You really feel the tension,” Norliza said.

Meanwhile, this polling day will only be Astro Awani’s second time in providing news coverage in the general election. Established in 2007, Astro Awani refused to be called the new kid on the block.

“Our news team may be relatively young, but it’s made up of some really experienced journalists,” vice-president and general manager of the station Rozina Aziz said in an interview.

Rozina added that about 160 people, from the administrative end to the editorial team, are involved in covering GE13. She half-joked that even the tea lady is involved.

For Astro Awani managing editor and news presenter Suhaimi Sulaiman, GE13 is the time to showcase what TV has been doing for so many years; showcasing the best in live reporting.

“We’ve been preparing for this moment for over a year now. We’re very kiasu like that!” Suhaimi said.

Sharpening the edge

With so many television stations vying for viewers’ attention, these newsrooms need to roll out something special to set themselves apart.

Aside from running the four television channels, Media Prima also operates radio stations and print publications. Group general manager of news operations Sofwan Mahmood said Media Prima is leveraging this strength in its GE13 newsgathering process.

“For instance, if our print arm gets the news first, we will be able to tap into that and air the story on television immediately, resulting in a synergetic information gathering,” he said.

Jasmine added this information-sharing also occurs between television channels, thus maximising the company’s resources. “Not all Ntv7 reporters are sent to the same states. If I wanted information from Johor Baru but I do not have a reporter there, I can ask the TV3 reporter who is stationed there,” said Jasmin.

To remain competitive, the company has also purchased new recording equipment. TV3 will be presenting the GE13 coverage from its new virtual studio, complete with robotic cameras (that operate without a cameraperson).

Meanwhile, RTM, being the first and oldest broadcaster in Malaysia, is sticking to its tried-and-tested formula that most viewers have grown accustomed to. Apart from providing live updates, TV1’s offering will also include comprehensive data and analysis.

“If you’re just following updates on social media, you won’t get a full picture of what happened. Viewers can find out what factors affected the outcome of some of the results and learn some exlusive details. We believe this is the kind of information you can’t get elsewhere,” said Norliza.

This year, the EC has allowed unnofficial results to be reported. (Previously, polling results can only be announced from the tabulation centres.)

“With competition coming from different platforms like social media, online news and even pay TV operators, we cannot afford to fall behind on the announcement of the results. So, this year, we’ll be able to announce unofficial results based on countings done at polling stations.”

She added that the announcement of unofficial results must be accompanied with a disclaimer saying it’s yet to be confirmed by the EC and viewers should stay tuned for more updates.

For Astro Awani, Suhaimi explained that the network’s focus on people-centric news content differentiates itself from the other news broadcasters.

“Seventy percent of our news content is about the people. We focus on telling the people’s stories, airing their views and saying what they expect from the political candidates. We also feature content from citizen journalists,” said Suhaimi.

There’s also an added feature on Astro Awani; look out for Awani Index, the channel’s exclusive political analysis based on data that Suhaimi believes most viewers can relate to.

“We work with Universiti Malaya’s Centre for Election and Democracy to explain how factors like broadband penetration, urbanisation rate, innovation and creativity affect the outcome of GE13.”

Learning from the past

“We were slightly less prepared,” said Jasmine when asked about the political tsunami that struck GE08 (general election in 2008).

“There was a big hoo-ha on election day. But if you noticed, the next day, everybody fell quiet. When you switch on the TV, Doraemon was on,” she remembered.

As no one anticipated the results, Jasmine said the channel did not have a post-election programme planned, adding that this year, Ntv7’s morning talk show, The Breakfast Show, will review the events that took place the night before.

The rise of the online media during GE08 also caught many in the mainstream media by surprise. Jasmine admitted that Media Prima’s online presence was weak back then. They have since beefed up the online department. RTM, on the other hand is taking cue from the Sarawak state election in 2011.

“We were prepared to only go live at 8pm with the results. Then, we found out that results were already out at 7pm! So we had to go with a breaking news programme right away. We believe the same will happen for GE13, maybe even faster and we are prepared for that.”

Keeping the news reports short and simple is another lesson RTM has learned from previous GE coverage. While prepping the newscasters and on-ground reporters, Norliza gave them one simple rule.

“We told them to make sure they focus on bringing us the results and then move on to the next announcement. Don’t talk about frivolous matters like the weather or give us statements that are more than three-minutes long,” she said.

She added there will be too many things happening on the day that the news programme cannot waste airtime on matters that will not interest their viewers.

“We don’t want our stand uppers to take such a long time to talk about the results and risk losing our viewers to another news platform.”

The online media has indeed posed a serious threat to television newsrooms, but Sofwan probably summed up the discussion best: “I see the challenge as something good because instead of coming up with a mediocre report, it motivates us to give the best news report to the public.”

GE13 TV guide

> Selamat Pagi 1Malaysia: Hari Mengundi (TV1 / Astro Ch 101 & HyppTV Ch 101, 7.30am) – This extended five-hour edition of the popular Bahasa Malaysia morning talk show will capture the sights and sounds of election day with on-the-ground correspondents reporting from polling stations.

> Analisis Malaysia Memilih Result Show (Awani / Astro Ch 501, 5pm) – Suhaimi Sulaiman, Cynthia Ng and Ashwad Ismail break down the election data for viewers as the results come in. Also, get election updates every two hours throughout the day starting at 7am. > Malaysia Votes GE13 (Ntv7 / Astro Ch 107 & HyppTV Ch 107, 6pm) – Hosted by Praevitriana Yul, Sheahnee Iman Lee, Jasmine Abu Bakar, Tan Chung Han, Raymond Goh and Anita Woo, the show brings live result updates, analysis and interviews with political experts. > Mandat 2013 (TV3 / Astro Ch 103 & HyppTV Ch 103, 6pm) – Datuk Johan Jaaffar, Datuk Ahmad A. Talib, Datuk Manja Ismail, Norliza Mohd Zain, Nasharudin Tajudin, Saiful Nizam Ismail and other TV3 presenters will keep viewers updated with live results and interesting discussion topics until the new Government is formed. > 8TV Mandarin News: General Election-13 Special (8TV / Astro Ch 708 & HyppTV Ch 108, 7pm) – Follow the GE13 coverage in Mandarin with 8TV news personalities Than Chia Yong, Owen Yap, Liew Li Li, Chew Siew Yeong, Lee Siad Huey and Tan Ley Teng.

> Polling Night 2013 (AEC / Astro Ch 301, 7pm) – Get the scoop on GE13 in Mandarin from Astro AEC news anchors Siow Hui Mei, Gan Jiang Han, Ho Hai Chyi, Loong Boon Min and Tan Yunn Chzuan.

> Malam PRU (TV9 / Astro Ch 119 & HyppTV Ch 109, 8pm) – Apart from GE13 news reports and analysis by hosts Zainal Ariffin Ismail, Amin Hayat Abdul Rahim, Syed Mohd Khair and Azura Abu Samah, local musicians and celebrities will perform live on the show. > Siaran Langsung Keputusan Pilihanraya 13 (TV1 / Astro Ch 101 & HyppTV Ch 101, 8.30pm) – Who will win? Who will fall? Catch all the election action as RTM broadcast live from Angkasapuri.

> Special GE13 - Election Day (The Capital TV / HyppTV Ch 420, 8.30pm) – Learn about the polling process and what the Election Commission is doing to enhance its efficiency and transparency on HyppTV’s 24-hour business channel.

Astro Awani’s Suhaimi Sulaiman

Newscasters weigh in on what it means to deliver the news on the country’s biggest political event.

SUHAIMI Sulaiman said he hasn’t been sleeping much since word got out that GE13 will be held on May 5. His work routine now consists of staying in office till late at night with his news team.

Suhaimi said: “Part of my job involves strategising the editorial content and managing the news team. From 8pm, we start getting all these information coming in from on-the-ground reporters and online team. Then I will discuss with the team on what to put out for the next news bulletin.”

After that is done, the managing editor of Astro Awani and newscaster stays on to continue his research and make index cards to remember what to say when the information is needed on air.

“We eat a lot of fast food for dinner (laughs). My news team also has to stay on to memorise and think about how they are going to present the information given. Then we go home and come back and do it all over again from 7am.”

Suhaimi’s word of advice to his news team is to inform, educate and entertain.

“I tell my reporters that viewers want news reporting that is relatively fair and balanced, presented in a fast and entertaining way. I want them to report the people’s element.”

He added enthusiastically: “Don’t be dry or monotonous. We want our reporters to tell the story differently. For example, instead of saying ‘This candidate is going against this person …’ try talking to someone on the street like the air tebu drink seller and ask what he thinks of the candidate!”

With more than 20 years of experience in news reporting, GE13 will be Suhaimi’s fourth time covering the country’s elections.

“My first time was in 1990 and I remember being a field reporter in Sungai Siput, Perak. I thought it was easier back then, as all I had to do was send stories from the site to the news editor in the studio.”

RTM’s Hazel Desmond

Of course, times have changed. Suhaimi said viewers are basically spoilt for access to information.

“Back then, television was the one with all the information. Now, you have social media, online media and so much more; the challenge is for us to remain relevant to our viewers!”

He said Awani has social media platforms where viewers are invited to share their story.

“Young people are all about social media. We ask them to send in Instagrams or tweets related to GE. We’ll verify the content and then show it on air. Instead of expecting viewers to just sit there and listen to us, we get them to engage in some form of news reporting.”

RTM broadcast journalist Hazel Desmond is being stationed at Pagoh, Johor Baru till May 6. Her location is one of the hotspots for GE13 as deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will be defending his parliamentary seat against PAS candidate Mohd Rozali Jamali.

Desmond said she’s expected to do a live telecast, report breaking news and look for human interest stories.

“There will be more than 10 of us in a team there. I also need to provide newsfeed for the morning talk show and news bulletins throughout the day starting from 7am,” she said.

With five years working experience in RTM and prior experience covering the Sarawak state election in 2011, Desmond is excited for this new chapter in her career.

“This is it. We’ve been preparing since last year. I believe this is where our teamwork skills and capabilities will be tested.”

With live news coverage, anything can go wrong. Desmond said: “Once, we were scheduled to go on air at 8.15pm but due to equipment failure; the studio couldn’t receive our live feed!

Ntv7’s Adriana Aris

“We have to handle situations like that as a team. So while the technical guys strived to resolve the issue, I scrambled to get as much news updates as I can to present it for later.”

Being in a remote area with limited access to communication also poses another challenge for Desmond to stay connected to the studio.

“I have three power banks ready just for my mobile phone. I know anything can go wrong, I’m mentally prepared (laughs).”

Ntv7 newscaster Adriana Aris found anchoring on the night of the last general election in 2008 an experience she will never forget. The unexpected election results meant that the programming schedule dragged on longer than expected.

“I was in the studio from 7pm till 2.30am. There were only three of us presenting, and only two left after midnight,” said Adriana who has read news in Media Prima for 19 years.

“We had chosen high stools without backs, which were extremely uncomfortable for long use. And things were coming in so fast, there was no time for toilet breaks,” she remembered.

Adriana stressed the importance of remaining impartial despite how one feels when covering news on election.

“We are human after all, and can be affected and swayed easily by emotions or personal opinions. However, we are also professionals and know that when we are on air, our main job is to deliver news to the public. We are not there to sway opinions or tell people how they should feel,” she said.

Meanwhile, TV3 news presenter Norliza Mohd Zain brought up the misconception that news anchors are mere talking heads.

“As I will be interviewing a variety of political experts throughout the GE13 coverage, I have to read up and research on the relevant topics,” said Norliza who also doubles up as a TV3 news producer.

In fact, Adriana pointed out that most Media Prima news anchors aren’t mainly hired to read news.

“At Ntv7, we do not believe that being an anchor is a primary task. Our anchors are firstly broadcast journalists, assistant producers, producers, editors and so on.

“It’s important that anchors get maximum exposure of the news gathering and production process. Only then will they fully understand and feel the news they present,” she reasoned.

Tonight, Adriana will be overseeing the overall production of Ntv7’s news coverage while Norliza will co-anchor TV3’s election special, Mandat 2013.

Norliza admitted to feeling slightly nervous, as this is the first election where TV3 will be using the virtual set, making it significantly harder as she has to time her movements to match the graphics.

The SwitchUp.TV team shooting the GE13 Showdown segment featuring Hulu Selangor independent candidate Datuk Seri Edmund Santhara.

SWITCHUP.TV is a webTV under The Star which churns out exclusive news and lifestyle content daily. Although the newspaper has been producing videos to accompany and enhance its news articles since 2001, it was only in June 2008 that SwitchUp.TV was formed to generate its own content.

Beginning in March this year, the webTV has rolled out a series of GE13-themed videos in conjunction with the general election. GE13 Showdown for instance, is a talk show anchored by some of The Star’s own reporters, featuring interviews with political candidates, analysts, strategists, bloggers and businessmen on issues pertaining to the general election.

Senior producer Ian Lau said: “The show not only gives politicians but also individuals from various industries a platform to talk about how the election affects different aspects of the country.”

So far, between 30 to 40 episodes have been uploaded with guests including Selangor state assembly speaker Datuk Teng Chang Khim, Indian astrologer Master Yuvaraj Sowma, Lembah Pantai candidate Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin and Seputeh candidate Teresa Kok just to name a few.

Besides that, SwitchUp.TV has also produced short documentaries to give viewers an idea of how consituencies around the country such as Lembah Pantai, Batu Gajah, Kuala Terengganu and Seberang Jaya are preparing for the election as well as surveying the opinion of locals living in the area.

On May 5, Lau said new content will be uploaded frequently.

“We have sent our team out to Penang, Pahang, Johor, Perak, Sabah and Putrajaya. Hence, every one hour or so, viewers can expect to see news reports with crossovers by our reporters from these states until the new government is formed.” – Kenneth Chaw

> Log on to switchup.tv. for the latest on GE13.

This year, there is an impressive list of big-budget films to attract audiences.

HOLLYWOOD’S summer movie season has officially kicked off with the release of Iron Man 3, which is currently showing in cinemas nationwide.

Like in recent years, there are plenty of sequels, superhero movies and adaptations to look out for, but this is not necessarily a bad thing (if Iron Man 3 is anything to go by).

From the trailers, Star Trek Into Darkness looks promising, while Pixar, which has yet to do any wrong, has Monsters University to entertain us with. The Fast & Furious franchise continues life on the fast lane with movie No. 6 (May 23). At the same time, there are sequels that make us wonder why there’s life after the first film – The Hangover III (May 30), Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters (Aug 18) and The Smurfs 2 (Aug 8).

There are also first-time adaptations of comic books. R.I.P.D. (July 18), starring Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds, is about cops from the afterlife keeping Earth free from roaming dead folk; while director Guillermo Del Toro’s Pacific Rim (July 11) is about a time when humankind faces an undefeatable enemy – gargantuan alien creatures. To fight back, the humans pilot huge robots. Idris Elba stars.

Perhaps the most curious of adaptations is The Great Gatsby (May 16), directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire – the material and cast list are more suited for awards season. Something more “appropriate” for the summer is The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones (Aug 22), aimed at the young adult audience.

This year also sees our favourite girls Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy teaming up in a cop/buddy film, The Heat (June 27). Other notable titles include Now You See Me (May 30), The Internship and After Earth (both on June 6), Turbo (July 18), Despicable Me 2 (July 3), The Conjuring (Aug 1), 300: Rise Of An Empire (Aug 8) and Kick-Ass 2 (Aug 8).

TAIPEI: Hollywood star Will Smith said Friday that he will probably shoot a comedy with his son Jaden when they team up for the third time in film-making.

Smith, who arrived in Taiwan on Thursday on a promotional tour, said it was "fantastic" to work with the 15-year-old in their second movie together, the sci-fi flick "After Earth", set to hit cinemas in June.

"Entertainment is our family business, so I am sure that if something comes up we'll do it again," Smith said at a red carpet fan meeting near the landmark Taipei 101 building, which was lit up with the movie's name.

"He (Jaden) is looking forward to a comedy, he's been having to do lots of drama for his career. Drama has kind of been his signature and he's been asking to find a comedy," Smith said.

The father and son duo first collaborated in the drama "The Pursuit of Happyness", in which Smith played the role of father to his then eight-year-old son.

"After Earth" tells the story of how Smith and Jaden fight to survive after they crash land on Earth, some 1,000 years after humans are forced to leave an uninhabitable Earth to live on another planet.

Jaden, who was also on site to greet hundreds of cheering Taiwanese fans, advised people to cut down on plastics, use solar panels and take shorter showers to help protect the earth. - AFP

LOS ANGELES: Members of the Navajo tribe in the southwestern United States are hoping the force will be with them as they dub "Star Wars" into their native Dine language.

Two days of auditions began Friday at the Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock, Arizona for Navajo wishing to lend their voices to Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Han Solo, C-3PO, Obi Wan Kenobi and Grand Moff Tarkin.

"Qualifications are fluency in Navajo and good acting skills," the museum said. "You give us your best Oscar-winning audition ever!"

Directed by George Lucas and released in 1977, "Star Wars" is a Hollywood science fiction classic and winner of six Academy Awards including best picture.

It's been dubbed into nearly 40 languages from Arabic to Vietnamese, and now stands to become the first major Hollywood motion picture ever to be translated into a Native American tongue.

Museum director Manuelito Wheeler told AFP the Navajo project, three years in the making, is aimed at promoting the use of Dine, which is spoken by only half of the 300,000 Navajo who live mainly in Arizona and New Mexico.

"We need a new and innovative way to engage the public to learn Navajo," he said.

"Navajo is a descriptive language," Wheeler added, when asked about the challenges of translating the script. "Conceptually, the Navajo language is able to plug into the concept of 'the force'."

More than 90 people registered for the auditions, and the final product is to be premiere at a Fourth of July festival in Window Rock before going on to screenings in California, Oklahoma and perhaps New York and Washington.

Lucasfilms, the production studio founded by Lucas and now owned by Disney, is collaborating on the project.

The Navajo are the biggest Native American tribe.

They're fiercely proud of the Navajo "code talkers" in World War II whose battlefield radio messages for the US military in the Pacific could never be cracked by Japanese forces.

Monument Valley, on Navajo land, and its majestic sandstone buttes have meanwhile been a popular location for many movie shoots, from John Wayne westerns to "Thelma and Louise" and this year's "The Lone Ranger" starring Johnny Depp. - AFP

Reeva Steenkamp (back row, fourth from left) with other contestants in the reality-competition series Tropika Island Of Treasure 5.

A new reality show portrays slain model Reeva Steenkamp as a happy and vibrant person.

IN THE reality show Tropika Island Of Treasure 5 there is haunting footage of Oscar Pistorius’ slain girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, speaking about the need to leave a positive mark on life, words laden with unintended poignancy after her shocking death on Feb 14.

“Not just your journey in life, but the way that you go out and make your exit is so important, you have either made an impact in a positive way or a negative way,” Reeva Steenkamp said in the reality competition series.

The 29-year-old model and law school graduate was shot three times at Pistorius home in the early hours of Valentine’s Day in a case that shocked many and topped news broadcasts around the world.

Pistorius – a national icon who inspired people around the world when he became the first double amputee to compete against able-bodied athletes in the Olympic Games last year – has been charged with murdering his girlfriend in cold blood.

His uncle gave the strongest indication yet that the star athlete, who broke down sobbing during his initial court appearance, would plead not guilty to the charges against him.

“We have no doubt there is no substance to the allegation and that the State’s own case, including its own forensic evidence, strongly refutes any possibility of a premeditated murder or indeed any murder at all,” Arnold Pistorius said in a statement.

“We are all grieving for Reeva, her family and her friends,” he said.

“Oscar - as you can imagine - is also numb with shock as well as grief.”

Steenkamp started dating Oscar Pistorius back in November 2012.

The track star faces a life sentence if convicted of premeditated murder, as alleged by state prosecutors.

Arnold Pistorius added that the couple “had plans together. Oscar was happier in his private life than he had been for a long time.”

When the show premiered on South African television two days after her death, it offered the world a small glimpse of the less well-known half of the doomed couple.

A one minute tribute before Tropika Island Of Treasure 5 showed Steenkamp appearing contemplative and at ease with herself, sitting beneath a beach-front palm, dressed in a strappy top and a yellow, black and dotted bikini, with her blonde hair tied back.

Looking deep into the camera, she also offered some advice to the up to three million people who watch the show every week.

“Just maintain integrity and maintain class and just always be true to yourself,” she said in what now sounds like a soliloquy on a life cut short.

“I’m going to miss you all so much.” But there were plenty of more light-hearted moments.

Steenkamp is seen swimming with dolphins and smiling broadly as she floats down the jungle-flanked Martha Brae River on a punted bamboo raft.

The model blew kisses, laughed and splashed across an aquatic obstacle course with other contestants trying not to be voted off the show.

The reality show, shot on location in Jamaica, featured the slain model as well as 13 other local personalities competing for one million rand (RM337mil) prize money.

Producers defended their decision not to shelve the show, instead painting its broadcast as a tribute to Steenkamp.

“She was happy, healthy, beautiful and vibrant and that’s the way she should be remembered,” said executive producer Samantha Moon.

In an earlier statement Moon said the decision to broadcast Tropika Island Of Treasure 5 was taken after “much deliberation”.

“This week’s episode will be dedicated to Reeva’s memory.”

The show was broadcast on state television channel SABC1, which said Steenkamp’s mother had given the showing her blessing.

Many more than the three million South Africans who normally watch the show were expected to tune in.

Many found it bitter sweet.

“It’s so painful watching Reeva smile at us on TV, while knowing she’s no longer with us” @MotsoPitsi wrote on Twitter.

“Tragic loss of Reeva Steenkamp – she looked so vibrant, sweet, young and beautiful. So sad for her family,” wrote Cavil Shepherd.

Born in the southern city of Port Elizabeth, Steenkamp moved to Johannesburg six years ago to pursue her modelling career. She had been dating Pistorius since at least November.

Elsewhere forensics teams are still working at Pistorius’ home to try and establish what took place before and after Steenkamp was shot in the head and hand.

Meanwhile unconfirmed details of Steenkamp’s last hours appeared in the South African press.

Beeld, an Afrikaans newspaper which initially broke the story of the murder, reported that two hours before the shooting, neighbours complained to complex security over the loud fighting at the house.

Beeld had initially said Steenkamp was shot having been mistaken for an intruder, but this claim has been dismissed by police and prosecutors.

The daily also reported that Steenkamp was shot through the bathroom door while on the toilet.

Using unnamed and unquoted sources the paper said Pistorius carried Steenkamp in his arms downstairs and tried performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

When guards arrived, Steenkamp was breathing but gargling blood because of her injuries.

The paper also reported that aside from the weapon used to kill Steenkamp, Pistorius had pending licence applications for seven other guns, including .223 semi-automatic - the same type of weapon used to kill 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in the United States in December. - The Straits Times, Singapore/Asia News Network

Tropika Island Of Treasure 5 premieres on Life Inspired (Astro Ch 728) on May 5 at 10pm.

Related Stories:
Who’s that girl?

TROPIKA Island Of Treasure 5 is not another reality competition series; it is Reeva Steenkamp’s final appearance on TV before her untimely death.

Steenkamp was allegedly shot dead by her boyfriend, athlete Oscar Pistorius, on Feb 14 this year. Executive producer Samantha Moon made the difficult decision to air the show just two days after Steenkamp’s shocking death.

“I hope to give the viewers the chance to know Reeva in this small way,” Moon said in an interview.

In this series, a group of celebrities and their fans pair up to compete in a variety of challenges to win one million rand (RM337mil).

In an e-mail interview provided by Life Inspired, Moon talks about her working experience with Steenkamp on Tropika Island Of Treasure 5.

Has the decision to air Tropika Island Of Treasure 5 two days after Reeva Steenkamp’s sudden death affected the public’s perception of the show?

Perhaps initially. But as each episode aired, our audience has fallen in love with Reeva. Now, we receive heartfelt messages from viewers, thanking us for giving them this opportunity to get to know Reeva.

Was it difficult to approach Reeva’s family to get their consent on airing the show as planned?

Her parents knew that it was a consideration, and asked that we air the show as planned.

Did you get to know her well during the show?

I did. I cast her over a year ago, and then spent a fair amount of time working with her on location over the last year.

Many of our viewers in Asia are wondering who Reeva really was apart from being a model and a rising TV star. Can you describe who Reeva was as a person?

Reeva was a wonderful human being and an extremely talented and intelligent woman. She had a kind and loving spirit that was evident to all who knew her and her zest for life will be truly missed.

Thinking back, was there a memorable moment of Reeva while shooting Tropika Island Of Treasure 5?

It’s one that viewers get to see. I won’t ruin it.

The contestants had to go through a number of highly physical challenges. Did Reeva undergo any preparation before shooting commenced?

Reeva, as a child, had been an avid horse rider, until a bad fall broke her back. She had to learn to walk again after the accident. Reeva was therefore exempted from our more “physical adventures” such as cliff jumping.

Can you tell us one thing about Reeva that most people do not know?

She was a law school graduate and an activist who regularly spoke out against gender violence and bullying.

Tropika Island Of Treasure 5 is said to be very similar to Survivor. Do you agree?

Part reality show, part game show, part travelogue, Tropika Island Of Treasure presents a different type of entertainment. Contestants on the show get to truly experience the culture our destination offers.

What can our viewers in Asia look forward to with Tropika Island Of Treasure 5?

High-octane excitement! Ten weeks of adventure and fun, and quality entertainment following the lives of 14 compelling players on the beautiful island of Jamaica.

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Reeva Steenkamp’s swansong

Red FM’s (from left) JJ, Lil Kev and Kudsia Kahar alongside special guests Fly Guy and Farouk Khan, who came on air this week.

TALK about a throwback! Dubbed the Red Reunion, JJ and Lil’ Kev of the Red Breakfast WTF managed to convince some of their old deejay friends to come back for a cameo appearance on their show this week.

Listeners were given a chance to reminisce with some of the biggest names of Malaysian radio, including Fly Guy, Rudy, Ross Yusof, Kudsia Kahar, Farouk Khan, and Serena C.

These were just some of the voices who kept you company during school bus rides or as your mum dropped you off at tuition classes. Ross, a name synonymous with the UK Top 40 charts back then, currently hosts a weekly football show both on TV and radio.

Kudsia’s sultry voice was not only exclusive with the English radio industry but was also a household name in the Malay radio scene. Fondly known as “The Big Kahuna”, she recalled how she was bullied by Lil’ Kev and Fly Guy when they used to work together under the same roof but she took it all in good fun.

Rudy Suffian (of the morning crew JJ and Rudy) also made his first radio appearance in two years.

In conjunction with GE13 this Sunday, Red FM will be keeping voters company with a special election countdown. The top 104 songs will be played on air as voted by listeners on the website. So go forth and vote!

For more information, log on to red.fm, like Red FM on Facebook at (fb.red.fm) or follow them on Twitter (@iloveredfm).

Red FM is a subsidiary of The Star Radio Group.