Anita Sarawak

Last updated
Anita Sarawak
Born
Ithnaini binti Mohd Taib

(1952-03-23) 23 March 1952 (age 71)
Singapore
NationalitySingaporean and Malayan
Other namesAnita Sarawak
Spouse(s)Mohamed Abdul Samad (1972 – 1979 divorced)
Broery Marantika (1981 – 1985 divorced)
James Dean Nicholson (1995 - 1999)
Mohammad Mahathir Abdullah (married 2001)
Parent(s)Dato' S Roomai Noor (father)
Siput Sarawak (mother)
Musical career
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1956–2010

Ithnaini binti Mohamed Taib (born 23 March 1952), better known by her stage name Anita Sarawak, is a Singaporean singer. [1]

Contents

Early years

Anita is the only child of actor and director S. Roomai Noor and actress Siput Sarawak. [1] Her parents separated when she was 9 months old and Anita lived with her father. [1] When Anita was around 12 years old, she went to live with her mother Siput and started preparation for her acting career. [1]

Career

At 14, Anita acted in her first film, Dua Kali Lima. [1]

At 15, Anita started performing at weddings and other functions. Anita first came to prominence at the age of 17, when she released her debut album With A Lot O’ Soul. In 1974, she released her first Malay album.

Throughout the 1970s, Anita actively promoted Singapore as a tourist destination through her performances. In 1974, she performed for a week in Hawaii; in 1975, she performed for nine days in West Germany; in 1976 in Monte Carlo for two weeks. [2]

In 1979, she launched a three-month performing tour of the United States, including shows in New York, San Francisco and Chicago. [3]

In 1985, she took off for Las Vegas and spent 18 years there performing at Caesars Palace.

Anita has also hosted The Anita Talkshow and Astana and acted in the telecomedy Agensi Melor and the telemovie Topeng (Mask). She also released a cookbook, Cooking with Love, in 2004.

In 2011, Anita retreated from public life, according to entertainment journalist Roslen Fadzil, to whom the singer reached out in 2022 to dispel rumors of her death, illness, and divorce. [4] [5]

In 2017, Sarawak was inducted into Singapore's Women Hall of Fame. [6]

Personal life

Anita has been married four times. She is currently married to Briton Mohamad Mahathir Abdullah (formerly Martin Cox), who is her manager. The couple first met in Las Vegas, and wed in 2001. [7]

In December 1972, Anita married Mohamed Abdul Samad. The couple divorced in August 1979. [8]

In October 1981, Anita married the Indonesian singer Broery Pesulima. Anita's father objected to the marriage as Broery is Christian while Anita is a Muslim. [9] Broery converted to Islam during their marriage but he couple later separated. [9] [10] Broery would later renounce Islam and converted back to Christianity. [9]

In 1995, Anita was caught for close proximity (khalwat) with her third husband J. D. Nicholson, who she was engaged to at the time. Anita attended a hearing in court and paid a fine. [11]

In September 2009, Anita's husband Mohamad Mahathir Abdullah was attacked outside her stepmother Datin Umi Kalthum's home in Taman Melawati, Malaysia. Anita subsequently forgave the robbers. [12]

In February 2011, Anita collected the Legend Award for her mother, Siput, at the Seri Temasek Awards. Anita said, "It was the proudest day of my life, an exceptional and emotional moment." [13]

In July 2013, Anita's stepmother Datin Umi Kalthum, a veteran Malaysian actress, died. Anita, who lives in the United States, could not return for the funeral. [14]

In 2022, Sarawak contacted entertainment journalist Roslen Fadzil to dispel rumors about her health and personal status. She retired from public life in 2011 and has been living a private life in Las Vegas, United States. [4]

Discography

EP

YearTitleRelease infoNotesRef.
1969With A Lot O’ Soul Columbia ECHK-621Backed by The Mandarins [15]

Album

YearTitleNotesRef.
1969With A Lot O’ Soul
1971Papa Ku Pulang
1972La La La Lu
1973Beautiful Saturday/Sunday
1974Between Me and He
Antara Aku dan Dia
Pesan Ayah
1975Environmental Terpuja
Live at the Mandarin Singapore
1976Joint hummed Anita
Sophisticated Lady
Gembira Bersama
1977Love Me
1978Dancing in the City
1979Gayamu Biar Sederhana
Anita Sarawak
1981For the Love
1982Peace
1984Kenangan Manis
1985I Love You
1989Asmara
1990Cinta Nan Satu
1992Antara Yang Manis
1993Bisikan Cinta
2004Seksis
2005Another Dimension
2008Anita Sarawak: Her Complete Evergreen Collection
2009Era Music Hits
2010Cinta Anita (Love Anita)

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1956Penchuri
1966Dua Kali Lima
2003Mr. Cinderella 2
2006Diva Popular

Host TV

YearTitleRoleTV channel
2003AnitaHerself/host Astro Ria
2007–2010Kwek Mambo AnitaHerself/host Astro Prima
2009–2010AstanaHerself/hostAstro Ria

Television series

YearTitleRoleTV channel
2003Selagi ada Kasih Mediacorp Suria
2005Agensi MelorAstro Ria
2008Papaku RockAstro Ria

Television movie

YearTitleRoleTV channel
2004Topeng Astro Ria

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Anita Sarawak | Infopedia". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  2. ↑ "Anita flies off today to woo Monte Carlo jet-setters". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. 21 November 1976. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  3. ↑ Tang, Geraldine (25 June 1979). "Anita is happy to be back from US". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Malaysian singer Anita Sarawak breaks her silence after 'disappearance' of almost 12 years". Yahoo News. 2022-05-30. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  5. ↑ Romero, Anna Maria (2022-05-31). "Anita Sarawak breaks silence after almost 12 years to end rumours of her death; reassures she's also neither sick nor divorced - Singapore News". The Independent Singapore News. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  6. ↑ "Anita Sarawak". Singapore Women's Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  7. ↑ "Anita Sarawak: From stepdaughter to stepmother". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on April 30, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Singer Anita Sarawak gets a divorce". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. 29 August 1979. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 "Anita Sarawak's 3 Ex-Husbands That Many Don't Know About". Hype Malaysia. 2019-01-16. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  10. ↑ "Anita to wed despite father's objection". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. 3 October 1981. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  11. ↑ Shuib, Taib (13 November 2011). "Where is Anita Sarawak?". New Straits Times. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  12. ↑ Alang, Bendahara (14 September 2009). "Anita Sarawak forgives robbers for attack". The New Straits Times. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  13. ↑ Low, Minmin (21 July 2011). "S'pore icons star in free concert". Singapore Press Holdings. my Paper. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  14. ↑ "Actress Umi Kalthum, 81, dies". Singapore Press Holdings. The Straits Times. 29 July 2013. Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  15. ↑ Discogs – Anita Sarawak – With A Lot O' Soul
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