Mawi's wedding

In just one breath and a dowry of RM22.50, artiste Asmawi Ani, or Mawi, was officially married to Nora’ashikin Rahmat (Ekin) at the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque, here today. The couple became husband and wife after the akad nikah (exchange of vows) ceremony performed by Imam Datuk Mahad Mohd Said at about 11.40am.
The ceremony was broadcast live on Astro Oasis (channel 106) and Radio Era — making it the second wedding of local artistes to be broadcast live on television in Malaysia after that of Datuk Siti Nurhaliza and Datuk Khalid Mohamad Jiwa, on Aug 21, 2006.
Earlier, Ekin, who arrived with her parents Rahmat Mohammad and Fatimah Saad, was led into the mosque by the Grand Imam of Johor, Abdul Mutalib Abdul Rahim, while Mawi’s delegation was led by Ustaz Abdul Ghani Khamis. The ceremony kicked off with the exchange of pantun in full Malay tradition. It culminated in Mawi placing a diamond ring on Ekin’s finger and kissing the forehead of his newly-wedded wife.
Ekin received nine trays of gifts dubbed “Jalur Melati” from Mawi. They comprised RM30,000 in cash, a Quran, a ring, handbag, a pair of shoes, a wrist-watch, a set of perfume and make-up, a cake and “sirih junjung”. In return, Ekin gave Mawi 11 trays of gifts with a “Blink Pink” concept, comprising a wrist-watch, a pair of shoes, a belt with matching wallet, a praying mat and “songkok”, a Quran, a ring, perfumes, cakes, fruits, chocolates and “sirih junjung”. Mawi, 27 and Ekin, 29, had announced their wedding plan at a press conference on Oct 21, and thus ended the speculations about their relationship.

Mawi, who was the winner of a reality-show, Akademi Fantasia 3, was previously engaged to Nordiana Md Naim. The couple is scheduled to hold their wedding reception later this evening at the Johor Baharu Municipal Council Stadium and another one at the Palace of The Golden Horses, in Seri Kembangan on Jan 11. Speaking to reporters after the akad nikah ceremony, Mawi said he hoped the marriage would last forever.
“We have gone through a lot and Ekin has been so strong even when she was deluged with various allegations,” said the groom whose only dissapointment today was the absence of his late father.http://www.akademifantasia.org/
aricle review by mohd aDzha (1080955)