- 5/26/2025
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00:00But when I made a decision to go into film, Malay film, I had to give up the Disney job.
00:05They actually said to me, you have to choose.
00:07Unfortunately, within the entertainment industry, internationally and locally, everywhere,
00:12there are certain paths to success.
00:15You have to sort of give up a bit on your ethics.
00:19And I don't like compromising on ethics.
00:21Things aren't always so perfect and so pretty.
00:23What's the most uncomfortable truth about working in this business
00:27that people don't necessarily talk about?
00:29Josh, I have to ask my management if I'm allowed to reveal all today.
00:34You know, there's a lot of content written from men that are strong roles
00:38and there's not a lot of strong roles for women who are often portrayed as victims
00:42or we're doing something wrong to someone else.
00:44And I think that's something that maybe would do good to change for Malaysian content.
00:49In this episode of Life Confessions, I have yet another amazing guest joining me.
01:01Someone you'll definitely recognise from TV and many other places
01:05because she has done so much in her life.
01:08I'm talking about Cik Puan Sarima Ibrahim.
01:11Thank you for joining us.
01:13Thank you so much, Terry.
01:14Just call me Sarima.
01:15It's so awkward when you say the full thing.
01:17I'm just like, good morning.
01:20Welcome to The Breakfast Show.
01:21I've no idea why I'm leaning in.
01:23I still have that bad habit from radio days.
01:26It's like, don't lean in, Sarima.
01:27The mic will pick it up.
01:28That's how it's always loud.
01:29We used to work together.
01:30I can't believe it.
01:30Like, so many years ago, we were on Red FM together.
01:33I think it was 2010 and 11.
01:37Right.
01:37Oh, I was only 20.
01:39Only.
01:40Only, like, felt like yesterday, right?
01:43Actress, TV host.
01:45The list of things that you do is so long
01:48that I had to, like, narrow it down
01:50to just say actress and TV host at the top.
01:52Like a summary.
01:53Yeah.
01:54Yeah, I know.
01:54Now that you say it,
01:55now I feel a little bit like an overachiever.
01:58Just a little.
01:59Just a little bit.
02:00Let's start with the fact that, you know,
02:02you were the first female host
02:04for the Disney Channel Asia in 1998.
02:07And tell us a bit about the challenges
02:09and memorable experiences
02:11that you encountered during that pioneering role.
02:14Gosh, you're taking me back now.
02:161998.
02:19The first female Disney Channel presenter for Asia.
02:22That was so scary
02:25because you had this whole, like, Disney brand behind.
02:30And they did, like, massive amounts of auditions.
02:33And I remember thinking,
02:34I'm never going to get this job.
02:37I'm so not suited.
02:40I'm too rugged.
02:42I do karate.
02:43I'm like, you know, I, you know,
02:45I'm like, I've got a piercing in my belly at the time.
02:48And I thought, no, no, no way, man.
02:49They're never going to look at me.
02:51And I just walked in.
02:52I just thought, there's no way, Terry,
02:55they're going to take me.
02:56So I remember getting that,
02:58going into the audition and just being myself.
03:00And they asked me to interact with children.
03:02So the benefit was I have three younger little brothers.
03:06So when I went into the audition,
03:07I just was playing with these children,
03:10like with the bricks and just singing and being me.
03:14And I think probably that was what got it in that sense.
03:18And the challenges were probably trying to make sure
03:23that my career aligned with the Disney branding.
03:27So I, at that time, also started getting into Malay films,
03:31you know, with scope productions and whatnot.
03:34And they were asking me to shoot films,
03:37like, you know, grass and whatnot.
03:39And then at the same time,
03:40Disney wanted me to have this wholesome image
03:43and, you know, be the mini Mickey sort of vibe
03:46and, you know, milk cows on a farm with children.
03:49So I was struggling.
03:51Yeah, I was like struggling between, you know,
03:52being a Disney person and being like this undercover,
03:57like caught running in the jungle with like,
04:00you know, wigs on.
04:00So it was a bit odd.
04:02So the challenges were trying to,
04:04the biggest challenge was trying to decide
04:06at what point do I choose between the two?
04:10So if I had stayed down the Disney path,
04:12I probably would have stayed in only the English speaking
04:15entertainment industry of Malaysia.
04:18And it would have taken me probably to,
04:21I mean, in some way,
04:22I ended up doing The Biggest Loser Asia
04:24for the Hallmark Channel and whatnot,
04:28but I would have stayed fully in the English.
04:30So I might have become more
04:31of the actor's studio type of group,
04:34perhaps the KL Pack group.
04:37I don't know where the trajectory was
04:39if I had stayed there,
04:41but when I made a decision to go into film,
04:43Malay film,
04:45I had to give up the Disney job.
04:48They actually said to me,
04:49you have to choose.
04:50They gave you the opportunity?
04:51Yeah, yeah.
04:52I remember I was crying and I was like,
04:54actually, I've never talked about this.
04:55So this is pretty, pretty like unusual.
04:58This is a good, good chat to have.
05:01They said to me, you know,
05:02you can't go down the Disney Channel path
05:06if you're going to play these various characters on screen,
05:10which are not in line with the Disney value,
05:13so to speak, like a criminal, a villain,
05:16you know what I mean?
05:17So I was like, ah, you know,
05:18but inherently I've always been an actress first,
05:23actually, and I accidentally became a host,
05:26but the talent of acting is very useful as a host,
05:29as you can see, I mean, for many, many actors,
05:33you know, you need that confidence and whatnot
05:35in front of the camera.
05:37So I made a decision
05:39and I went down the Bahasa Melayu path
05:42because I could.
05:45Thankfully, I'm able to speak fluent Malay
05:48and that's due to my schooling and my parents.
05:50But once I made that choice, Terry,
05:52the trajectory sustained itself organically
05:57down the path of Malay dramas, Malay films,
06:00Malay hosting of live shows and whatnot.
06:03That was the challenge.
06:05The difficulty was like, where do I go?
06:08So because in our industry,
06:09there were two split groups in 98 to 2000.
06:13There was the English speaking theatre group
06:16and then there was the Malay mainstream mass market.
06:20So I was like, I don't know which,
06:23so I had to just choose.
06:24Right, it felt very defined.
06:26It was very defined.
06:29What made you choose, make that choice?
06:32Because I hadn't done the second path.
06:34So I'd done Disney and I'd had a great time there
06:38and I'd been part of this international legacy
06:42and I thought, wow, this is amazing,
06:44but I think I can do more than this.
06:46And then I felt like I wasn't able to use my Bahasa.
06:49So I was like, as a Malaysian,
06:51I think maybe I owe it to myself
06:53to give it a shot and go this direction.
06:55So I went that direction to see what would happen.
06:59And then like I said, it organically sustained itself till now.
07:02And all this has happened.
07:04So much has happened.
07:06In fact, you did mention that one of the things
07:09that you're looking forward to doing is also producing.
07:12Yeah, so that's probably the next.
07:13So it's all coming full circle.
07:15So we're here today at Astro,
07:17which is where the Disney Channel first started.
07:19It was one of the first channels that existed on Astro
07:23when it first launched, I believe.
07:25And so now I'm here again in 2025
07:28doing this interview with you
07:29and I'm hoping to get into co-producing content
07:32and sustaining the next path of my career
07:38and also for other people out there who are creatives
07:40who want and need a platform
07:43where they are supported emotionally,
07:45physically and creatively.
07:46It shows your visibility.
07:49Because you've done so many things
07:50and done so many aspects of the entertainment industry
07:54that it even includes the fact that earlier on
07:57you transitioned to radio as well, right?
08:00You co-hosted The Breakfast Shows on Mix FM
08:02and also on Red FM where I was one of your colleagues.
08:06That was so long ago.
08:07You used to see me at my best early mornings
08:10running into the studio.
08:11Yeah, those were the days.
08:14It's never easy, right?
08:15And doing breakfast shows, I mean, hats off
08:17because you've got to go to sleep by nine
08:19and be in there like five.
08:20I was never good at that.
08:21I mean, I was good at the execution of the job,
08:24but I wasn't enjoying the process of the logistics,
08:28so to speak.
08:31But also radio happened at a time in my life, Terry,
08:34where I had been in films, dramas.
08:38I'd hosted live shows.
08:39I'd done so much on screen
08:41that I felt like I needed a break from the physicality,
08:46the pressures of physicality as a performer.
08:49And I wanted my voice and my personality to lead
08:54so that my brain would be more important than my appearance.
08:57Right.
08:58And was that transition, you know,
09:00to focus more on your voice and to communicate verbally,
09:05how was that?
09:06It was funny and I started eating more
09:08because I was like, nobody can see me.
09:10And then that kind of, that bubble burst
09:12because everyone's like,
09:13I think we're going to start doing live on air too.
09:17And I was like, no,
09:18I thought I escaped the clutches of appearance pressure.
09:22Right.
09:22I thought I could come in to shoot in like,
09:24I mean, to record in like track suit and T-shirt.
09:27But no, no, no, no.
09:29They were like, we're going to show you on air too.
09:31I was like, no.
09:32Right.
09:32I may as well go back on TV then, good.
09:35Yeah.
09:36So I think, I don't know.
09:37I think it did.
09:38I mean, I can't speak for the listeners out there.
09:41I can't speak for other people.
09:44All I can say is the day that I left radio, left Mix FM,
09:49you know, I remember crying my eyes out
09:51and having to make that decision.
09:53It wasn't easy.
09:54And a lot of people coming up to me till today,
09:57which is 11 years later,
10:00saying, you know, we still remember this joke
10:02and that joke and what you did to Rod
10:04and what you did to Luke.
10:05And I'm like, it's been 10 years.
10:07Yeah.
10:07How does that feel to have people come up to you
10:09even now remembering, you know,
10:11how much you impacted their lives?
10:13In various forms of media,
10:15mediums that I've been in,
10:17people have been impacted and that's an honour.
10:19I think at the end of the day,
10:21to have been able to be part of people's journey,
10:26what it's done, I think is,
10:27yeah, there's pressure.
10:29Pressure to make sure that I'm always that person
10:32for everyone else.
10:33But in the last 10 years,
10:35what I've learned is to also be there for myself too.
10:38Because if I'm not there for me,
10:40then I can't be there for everyone else.
10:42You know, if I'm not taking care of my health,
10:44then I won't be able to perform for everyone else
10:46and give them that joy.
10:48Does someone have to point this out to you
10:49or is this something that you realise?
10:51Does someone have to?
10:52No, I'm pretty self-aware, too self-aware, I think,
10:55that I'm aware that when I've reached a limitation
11:00or a point where, okay, like,
11:03I need to step back now, you know,
11:05or take a break or something.
11:06I'm pretty good at seeing that.
11:08The problem is, I think no one else can see it.
11:11That's probably the issue, Terry.
11:13Everyone else just sees this person
11:14who's, like, full of energy and bubbly.
11:17And I think that is something
11:19that all creatives struggle with.
11:22The perception that others have of you
11:25and the reality of your internal state.
11:29And, you know, I studied psych and I've worked,
11:32I was the patron for Miasa for a while.
11:34I was very fortunate and honoured
11:35to be able to work with people
11:37in the mental health industry here as well
11:40and continue that studying, too.
11:43I studied compassionate therapy as well.
11:45So, I had to learn to be compassionate to me.
11:49It sounds very self-indulgent
11:51and sort of like a bit circular in the conversations,
11:56but I don't mean it to be.
11:57What I mean is, it really does mean
12:00if you don't take care of yourself,
12:02you can't take care of everyone else.
12:04Do you think it helped that
12:05because you studied psychology
12:07that it makes you more able to deal
12:10and process this type of, you know,
12:15the life that you've been living
12:16and be able to take care of yourself
12:18on top of knowing that self-awareness that you have?
12:23I think it makes it both difficult and easy.
12:25It's difficult because you know
12:27what other people are not aware of
12:30and then you watch people suffer
12:32and then you see, sounds really awful,
12:35but the potential of everyone else,
12:39including your own potential.
12:40So, you're constantly setting the bar
12:42and the standards high for yourself and everyone else
12:46because you know what's holding people back and yourself.
12:50But then not everybody,
12:52which moves on to what I've learned recently,
12:56the best statement I heard from Mel Robbins,
12:59she's a well-known author and motivational coach.
13:02She said, let them.
13:05Meaning, let people be who they are
13:07and let them show you who they are
13:10without you trying to change who they are.
13:13Because you cannot deny who someone is
13:17in the same way that you can't deny who you really are.
13:19Eventually, it surfaces.
13:22So, I think it helps, but it's also difficult
13:24because you can walk in and be like,
13:26but this could be better and that would be better.
13:28But then how long are you going to be like that?
13:30You know what I mean?
13:31And that can be in anything you do.
13:33It can be as an announcer, as an actor, as a host,
13:36as a producer, constantly going for the next take,
13:40the next take, the next best.
13:42You've got to know when to just go, okay.
13:45And you can do that now.
13:47It be, let them.
13:51You mentioned acting being a big part of what you do now.
13:55You focus on that.
13:56Like you've been doing it for a really long time.
14:00And you're focusing even more on it now,
14:01it would seem over the last few years, right?
14:03Portraying a human rights lawyer
14:04in the Astro premiere series Riot
14:07is just one example of you showcasing your acting range.
14:11That was cool, but my hair was way too big for that.
14:13I have no idea what happened to my hair in that role.
14:15I look at it and I'm like, whoa,
14:16my hair is bigger than my personality.
14:18The witch is saying a lot.
14:21But it was a lovely role to come into,
14:24to start back in on an Astro original.
14:28And then things kind of took off from there
14:30with all the Malay dramas.
14:32I probably take it a bit more seriously now,
14:34the profession of acting.
14:36Whereas before it was only play.
14:38Now it's like, now that I've studied acting overseas
14:41and I'm aware that there's actually like
14:43a method to the performance.
14:45Tell us more about that.
14:47The acting, you went back to studying acting.
14:52It was fun.
14:54It was fun to walk around the streets in another country.
14:56Nobody knew who I was and like,
14:58walk around the streets.
14:59I just say that, what was I doing?
15:00I mean, you know what I'm saying?
15:02Walk to class with a backpack and notepads and pens
15:06and learn from teachers and coaches like Gerry Grennell,
15:10who've trained Oscar Isaac,
15:13who's trained Heath Ledger.
15:15I've trained with him.
15:18And he's from the Bow Street Academy in Dublin.
15:20And to train with Mel Churcher,
15:21who's trained Natalie Portman and whatnot.
15:23And learn from them a deeper skillset
15:27so that I can raise my performance.
15:33You've worn so many hats.
15:34TV host, radio announcer, actress, singer and more.
15:40Let's be honest when it comes to women
15:45being in the industry, right?
15:47Like women are often expected to do it all without complaint.
15:51Did you ever feel the pressure to prove yourself more?
15:56Prove myself more?
15:57Yes, not because of my gender.
16:00I think probably because of my cultural heritage.
16:06But being mixed wasn't always celebrated
16:11and it wasn't seen always as an advantage,
16:14which is contrary to a lot of popular belief.
16:17But being mixed in certain aspects of entertainment
16:21is an advantage.
16:22But being mixed in certain aspects is a disadvantage.
16:26Because, for example, in the acting...
16:29In hosting, it was great because you look Pan-Asian.
16:33You can be in any country.
16:34But in acting, if you want to be in local dramas, etc.,
16:38and you want to portray a character
16:40that's like, you know, staying in a rural environment
16:44or lives a certain type of lifestyle,
16:46being mixed is not necessarily a flex.
16:50Because then you're like, they're like,
16:51yeah, but why would we take you?
16:53So unfortunately, then you get stereotyped
16:56and typecast into certain roles
16:58where you're either glamorous or you're the villain
17:01or you're the cheating or cheater,
17:03which is a bit frustrating because it's like,
17:05but that's not true.
17:06I was born in Ireland.
17:07I was raised in Subang Jaya, Sha'alam.
17:10And then I went to school like a Bangsaan
17:12and then I was in international school.
17:14So why am I the villain
17:16or like the super rich businesswoman?
17:20Why can't I just be like who I was in USG?
17:25This doesn't make sense to me, right?
17:27Do you know what I mean?
17:28But the typecasting can happen.
17:31How did you overcome that?
17:33Was it already happening at that point?
17:35Did you feel it was happening?
17:37I think there was no way to fight it.
17:38So what I did was I embraced it
17:40and I did the best of what I was given.
17:42You know, like my first role,
17:44like for example, in Puchai Impian 2,
17:47Amy Mastura at the time was like a massive star
17:50and I joined the cast late.
17:52And I had this one character,
17:54this character called Lisa,
17:55who is like this cheating,
17:59like crazy TV producer,
18:03like 21 at the time or 20.
18:06And I was like, why do I look
18:08like a cheating, crazy TV producer?
18:11Oh, well, anyway, you know,
18:13I just come out of Disney Channel.
18:14So there you go.
18:15How does that?
18:16OK, fine.
18:17What's the answer that you give yourself
18:19when you ask that question?
18:20Like, OK, yeah, I did.
18:21And people loved it, which was quite disturbing.
18:24But great.
18:25But then from there,
18:26I ended up doing lots of different types of roles.
18:28So I think, you know,
18:29you just got to give everything a chance, Terry, everyone,
18:32you know, just, you know, when it's scary,
18:34just go for it and then see what happens.
18:38Because if you don't just go for it,
18:40that was my, that's what I told myself.
18:42Whatever typecasting there is,
18:44and genderism and sexism
18:46and whatnot happening in the industry.
18:48It's like that everywhere.
18:49Malaysia, Hollywood, wherever you just go for it.
18:53But one thing that I've always maintained
18:55is my ethics as a performer.
18:57And when other people don't have ethics for themselves,
19:02I always stay with mine.
19:04Right. Is that the guiding light?
19:06That is my guiding light.
19:08But it can make the journey very difficult
19:10because unfortunately,
19:12within the entertainment industry,
19:13internationally and locally everywhere,
19:16there are certain paths to success and to,
19:20there are certain, what's the word I'm looking for?
19:23Like when you, when you, not compensate,
19:26but when you have to sort of give up a bit on your ethics
19:30or compromise. Thank you.
19:32And I don't like compromising on ethics.
19:35And I don't like compromising on quality.
19:38Right.
19:38And I don't like people compromising themselves for it.
19:42So I'm a little bit,
19:43I've always been like a social activist,
19:46I think in that sense,
19:48which I've just realised right now.
19:50So maybe I don't do that all the time.
19:52Yeah.
19:52So, and I think I'm going to carry that forward
19:54into producing, hopefully.
19:57That sounds like a great way to live, actually,
20:01to be able.
20:02Not really.
20:03Oh, no.
20:03No, because it's a great way to live
20:08if you are surrounded in an environment
20:10where everybody is on the same path.
20:13But if everyone doesn't want the same path,
20:17then it's quite complicated.
20:18So then you might end up compromising.
20:21So the biggest challenge for any performer
20:24or new performer out there, I'd say,
20:25is trying to stay grounded in your own ethics
20:28and making sure you don't compromise your values.
20:31You know, in terms of like, okay, for example,
20:34sucking up body, buying off, you know,
20:37pretending, faking it.
20:39You know, the term fake it till you make it.
20:41I think that was a big issue and it was developed.
20:43So I'm not going to blame boomers.
20:44I'm not going to blame Gen X.
20:46I'm like stuck between everybody at this point, you know.
20:49But I think we did an awful lot of faking it
20:51till we make it and it compromised all of our health
20:56as a society.
20:57And it's still ongoing now.
20:58And it's caused a lot of mental health issues,
21:00specifically for creatives.
21:02Right.
21:03You know, this hustle mentality
21:06also is related to the fake it till you make it.
21:08Don't show your weakness.
21:10Don't show you're tired.
21:11And I think that's been a cause for a lot of issues.
21:16Right.
21:16You know, that's what brought me into mental health,
21:19being an activist for mental health.
21:21We definitely want to get into more
21:23on the mental health aspect of not only the industry,
21:27of just being an individual as well.
21:29But speaking more on the entertainment industry,
21:32you know, we know that the Malaysian entertainment industry
21:35loves its glitz and glamour.
21:36Yeah.
21:37But beyond the scenes...
21:38Which industry doesn't?
21:40Exactly. Right.
21:41But behind the scenes,
21:43things aren't always so perfect and so pretty.
21:45What's the most uncomfortable truth
21:47about working in this business
21:49that people don't necessarily talk about?
21:52Gosh, I'll have to ask my management
21:54if I'm allowed to reveal all today.
21:58There might be more than one,
21:59but maybe one that comes to mind now.
22:01Your opinion might change later on, in fact,
22:03but at this point, when you think about it...
22:04You know, at the end of the day,
22:08not trying to sound like all like,
22:10but we get to work.
22:12We have our sight.
22:13We have our sound.
22:14We have our touch, tastes.
22:16We're fortunate to be alive right now
22:20and healthy and have a good meal
22:22and have a bed to sleep in.
22:24And I always tell myself
22:28before I talk about something
22:29that it's difficult to remember that first.
22:31Otherwise, I mean,
22:33our problems seem very insignificant
22:35compared to most of the world.
22:36Right.
22:38So if we're talking about challenges...
22:40It's interesting.
22:40It's almost like you're saying
22:42for those of us who are lucky enough
22:43to be in a position that is comfortable...
22:46That we can even talk about the challenges.
22:47Right. To recognise our privilege first.
22:49We don't have to worry about like
22:51whether we're going to be alive in the next hour.
22:55It seems trivial, but okay.
22:57You know what I'm saying.
22:57You know where I'm going with this, right?
22:59In the sense that putting aside
23:01the fact that, thank God, we're all here and alive
23:04and able to do this, this job and be alive.
23:09The challenges within the industry,
23:11if you're asking for that specifically,
23:13behind the scenes are just,
23:16I would say, the compromising of real self.
23:20Like in order to please and perform
23:25at the given times for radio shows,
23:28live performances, shoots,
23:32whatever it be for a creative,
23:34whether you're a cameraman, a sound man,
23:36an actor, an actress, a producer,
23:38the challenges of the time that's given
23:41do not allow for true human feelings.
23:46What I mean is if you're having a bad day
23:47or somebody's sick,
23:48or you have a loved one who's not well,
23:51or you're not feeling well,
23:53when you're on that stage
23:54or you're rolling that camera
23:56or you're in the producer's chair,
23:57you got to put that aside.
24:00You know what I mean, right?
24:03You can't have the liberty
24:05to be a human being in this job often.
24:08You've got to be the human performer,
24:11not the human being.
24:12The being is not allowed often.
24:17Whereas for other jobs,
24:18they can be the job and the human being.
24:21What I mean is if I had a desk job
24:24and I was sick,
24:26I could be sick and blow my nose
24:29while I'm typing at my job.
24:32But if you're live on air,
24:34you cannot blow your nose even.
24:36If you're acting in a scene,
24:39you can't stop and blow your nose.
24:41So the human being aspect
24:43is quite often put aside
24:46for the performing aspect.
24:48Right.
24:48That's such a good point
24:50because it's almost ironic
24:52because our job requires us
24:54to show our personality,
24:56how human we are.
24:57Or as an actor,
24:58to live truthfully
24:59within the character we're playing.
25:01Right.
25:01However, it's as if that character
25:03is not allowed to be organic
25:05and sneeze or cough or suddenly cry
25:08because you have the restraints
25:10of the medium or the camera
25:12or the script or the time.
25:14Right.
25:15So how do we...
25:16So how do you live truthfully,
25:17A, as yourself or B, as the character?
25:21That is the biggest challenge.
25:22What is the answer?
25:23The answer is...
25:24I mean, when I was overseas
25:26for a while there last year,
25:27I learned to combine the skill
25:30with the truth.
25:33Very strange place limbo to be.
25:36Yeah.
25:37So you got to find it in yourself
25:38to be able to like,
25:39excuse me,
25:41or excuse me,
25:42achoo, oh my goodness,
25:44I just sneezed live
25:46in front of everyone.
25:47Or if you're in a character,
25:49character sneezes,
25:50you go...
25:51and you continue in the script.
25:53So it's about...
25:55but that's so superficial at the moment.
25:57I'm just talking about sneezing.
25:59Yeah.
25:59We're talking about
26:00if you have a family member
26:01that's not well or etc, etc.
26:04So without trying to sound trivial
26:07and complain about a job
26:08that we're all very lucky to have,
26:10there are those challenges
26:11and that does give rise to repression
26:14and suppression and health issues.
26:18Speaking of mental health, right,
26:21what unique mental health challenges
26:23do you think people in Malaysia's
26:26creative industry face,
26:27especially those constantly in the public?
26:29You've touched on a little bit of it already,
26:30but say more.
26:32Well, I mean, we know,
26:33like we've looked overseas.
26:34I mean, from the Britney Spears
26:35of the bashing of cars
26:37to the shaving of the head
26:38to two people here being found
26:41on the side of the road,
26:43you know, not knowing who they are.
26:45I mean, obviously, let's be honest,
26:48everyone's got a mental health issue.
26:50Everybody, everybody
26:52actually has a little bit
26:53of a mental health issue,
26:55just like everybody's got
26:56a little bit of a physical health issue,
26:58like you have a bit of a headache today
27:00or a migraine.
27:00So you might be mentally
27:02not as strong today
27:03as you might be in the next hour.
27:05It's normal to not be healthy
27:08all the time, right?
27:10The problem is we don't seem to be OK
27:13with admitting that we're mentally
27:15or emotionally not feeling our best.
27:18So we try to use coping mechanisms
27:20to cover it.
27:21If we were sick, we'd take a painkiller,
27:23we'd go to a doctor,
27:24we'd get a check or an X-ray.
27:26But when we're mentally not well,
27:28unfortunately, as humans,
27:29we go to the usual coping mechanisms,
27:31entertainment and addictions, etc., etc.
27:33happen.
27:35So I think the biggest challenges
27:36for us as Malaysians
27:37is probably to,
27:39as Malaysian creatives,
27:40is to be more compassionate
27:42to ourselves and be like,
27:43you know, it's OK and take a break
27:46and possibly be more honest
27:48with ourselves and other people around us.
27:51No matter what the cost is.
27:52Don't do the fake it.
27:54Yeah, the fake it till you make it breaks you.
27:56It actually should be called
27:57fake it till you break.
27:58Yeah.
27:59Because it's not fake it till you make.
28:01It's actually fake it till you break.
28:03Yeah.
28:03And that's not healthy.
28:05So...
28:06You've long challenged...
28:07Gosh, I sound like an old person here
28:10talking like...
28:10You don't sound old.
28:11You sound wise.
28:12You sound like a person
28:13who's trying to make a difference, right?
28:15No, a lot of people might argue with that.
28:16They might say I'm being pedantic
28:18and, you know,
28:18but I'm just saying and giving it what it is,
28:22you know, from the perspective that I've been in.
28:24In fact, you've long championed mental wellness.
28:27How can media...
28:28What do you think about
28:29when it comes to media figures like yourself, right?
28:31How can you use your platform
28:34more effectively to destigmatise therapy
28:37and mental health care?
28:38Yeah, that's what...
28:40I've worked with people
28:41and NGOs that do champion it.
28:44They are...
28:45I'm just like the loudspeaker.
28:46They are the voice.
28:48Be it working with Miasa
28:50or right now with the NGO Empathy.
28:52These are the people I work with
28:54to get the message out.
28:57But it's not enough to have a message, Terry.
28:59And, you know,
29:00everybody can talk about mental health,
29:01which we do, you know,
29:03set a mental hashtag,
29:04mental health, blah, blah, blah.
29:06But at the end of the day,
29:07it's the actionable, you know,
29:10movements after that.
29:11Like, what are the results of talking about it?
29:13Because you can talk and talk and talk and talk
29:14and it becomes circular
29:16or it becomes indulgent
29:18or it becomes toxic
29:20in the sense that
29:21if we're talking about it all on social media
29:23and sharing, like, our problems,
29:24like, who's listening?
29:25And then the feedback from netizens
29:27because you don't know who's behind the keyboard, etc.
29:30So I like to work with associations
29:32that actually have a number to call,
29:35an email to ask for help,
29:39licensed counsellors, therapists
29:42who are actually there to take action.
29:44Right.
29:45And that's how, you know,
29:46you're making a difference
29:47because when you work with these bodies
29:51that actually work with statistics
29:53and they can measure the changes
29:54that are being made.
29:55And in fact, I'm actually doing a presentation
29:57on mental health,
29:58something that I do
29:59that I don't really talk about a lot online
30:01or in the limelight,
30:02but I'm doing a presentation on mental health
30:04to a corporate next week.
30:06And that's something that I do generally,
30:09but I just don't highlight it.
30:10It's something that gives me
30:11a lot of satisfaction
30:14from a different perspective.
30:15And I go in and I talk to the youth,
30:17I talk to women,
30:18I talk to professionals
30:19and I actually give talks on,
30:21you know, workplace stress,
30:23workplace psychology of,
30:26you know, the workplace or schools
30:28or youth or for women.
30:30That's something I really enjoy doing
30:31and I like characters
30:33that allow me to also challenge
30:36those themes and topics too.
30:38Right. Yeah.
30:39So it's across the platforms
30:41and not only are you championing it
30:44on social media
30:45and going to places
30:47where you can speak about it,
30:48but also in the roles that you take on.
30:50Yeah, it's educational.
30:51I think I try to be educational
30:53in what I do
30:54because we've only got
30:54a little bit of time on this planet
30:57and we never know when it's up.
30:59Right.
30:59So I would like for my daughter
31:01to at least be able to know
31:04that like her mummy contributed
31:07more than just like what I look like,
31:09how I made people entertained.
31:11I'd like her to learn.
31:13Right.
31:14You know, and I'd like to make sure
31:16that I leave Malaysia
31:19in a safer place for her.
31:22Right.
31:22You know, so that as a woman,
31:24as whatever she wants to be,
31:25she feels supported.
31:26Right. Do you think actually as a mum,
31:28do you think the industry
31:30still punishes women
31:31for prioritising motherhood sometimes?
31:35When it comes to
31:37choosing that option, right?
31:38When a woman decides
31:41it's time to be a mum.
31:42It's both.
31:43For those creatives
31:44who haven't become a mum,
31:45there's the pressure to
31:46why are you not a mum?
31:47And then for those
31:48who've become a mum,
31:49they obviously need to take
31:50the nine months
31:51plus the six months out
31:52to get themselves ready and back.
31:54And then they're kind of left behind
31:57without any support.
31:59And when they come back,
32:00there's a lot of physical pressures,
32:02like what you look like
32:04or are you now not able
32:05to be a performer, actress, host
32:07because you're a mum.
32:09So there is that.
32:10There's still a stigma.
32:11There's still that sort of
32:14prejudice there is.
32:15But worldwide, it's still an issue.
32:17Let's not kid ourselves.
32:18Not just Malaysia.
32:19It's like everywhere.
32:20Yeah. You know?
32:21And knowing that it is something
32:23that is still prevalent.
32:25Yeah. Right.
32:26Did becoming a mother
32:28make you feel like
32:29you had to put parts
32:30of your identity on hold
32:32at any point?
32:33Because there's this new
32:35life in your life.
32:36Yeah, I did.
32:37And that's why I stopped for four years.
32:40I didn't really do much.
32:42I stopped radio so that I could focus
32:44on being a wife and a mum.
32:46But I knew when Sophia
32:47turned four and a half
32:49that I was like,
32:50I need to get back to doing this.
32:51And that's why last year
32:52I decided to go full gung ho
32:54with the hosting live shows.
32:56I did the TikTok awards
32:58and I did a few appearances,
33:00you know, and I came back slowly.
33:02I did AJL hosting
33:03and then I did two dramas and whatnot.
33:06Because it's just who I am.
33:08And so I gave myself
33:10sort of like a timeline,
33:11a little bit, you know,
33:12I said within the next five years
33:14I'll come back if people are welcoming.
33:16I'm not sure, you know,
33:18I don't know if it's
33:19if it's really a timeline
33:21or if it's just like a goal that I had.
33:23Yeah.
33:24How do you feel about
33:25the progress that you've made
33:27since returning to what you love?
33:31It's not easy
33:32because I'm going back older
33:34and I'm going back
33:35where there is potentially ageism
33:37that exists anywhere worldwide
33:39and in the industry.
33:40You know, there's a lot of content
33:42written from men
33:43that are strong roles
33:44and there's not a lot
33:45of strong roles for women
33:47who are often portrayed as victims
33:48or we're doing something wrong
33:50to someone else.
33:52And I think that's something
33:53that maybe would be
33:54would do good to change
33:55for Malaysian content.
33:58The only thing is,
33:58there's a, it's a cycle,
34:01it's sort of like a vicious circle
34:02where people say,
34:03well, that's what sells
34:03so we'll repeat it
34:04so that it continues.
34:05But I'm like,
34:06they used to say that
34:07about everything in history
34:09until they changed it,
34:10you know, when we couldn't vote.
34:11Well, yeah, but whatever.
34:13But so if we don't change
34:14and you don't become a change maker,
34:16then at what point do you know
34:17that other things will sell?
34:19Right, right.
34:20Somebody's got to put
34:22some pressure on it.
34:22You've got to just take the risk,
34:24just like I did in 998
34:25and take the risk
34:26and go for the audition.
34:27I'm constantly trying
34:28to take new risks.
34:30Yeah.
34:30Because I always say,
34:32if you don't try,
34:33you will not know
34:34and not knowing is worse
34:35than trying and failing.
34:36Do you feel like the landscape
34:38has changed since?
34:40Yeah, I mean, my goodness,
34:41look at like social media.
34:43I don't just,
34:43no, I do understand.
34:44No, I mean, I don't understand
34:46how people can be so fast
34:47with their thumbs.
34:48No, I mean,
34:49it's just instantaneous.
34:51Yeah.
34:52You know, but it's instantaneous
34:53gratification
34:55and it's instantaneous,
34:59how would I say,
35:01it's criticism,
35:02it's instantaneous praise
35:04and anything too fast in life
35:06is not good.
35:06It's just like love,
35:08you know, you can't fall in love
35:09too fast.
35:10Right.
35:10Not to say that you can't,
35:11but anything that comes too easily
35:13is usually not that sustainable.
35:15Right.
35:15So we kind of say,
35:18we, here we go
35:19with that generation old school,
35:21but delayed gratification
35:24usually sustains longevity.
35:27Okay, let's put it out there.
35:28So if you wait to get something
35:31you really like
35:32and work really hard for it,
35:35I mean, even in mice and in science,
35:37it's been studied,
35:38it is more sustainable
35:40only because you remember
35:42how hard it was to get it.
35:44Right.
35:44So fame, money, attention,
35:49anything you work really hard to get,
35:52I say hard,
35:53I didn't say till it breaks you, yeah?
35:54Yeah.
35:55Will give you the motivation
35:57to do more of.
35:59Right, right.
36:00And obviously,
36:00if you're just given it like that,
36:02you don't understand the process
36:03to sustain it.
36:05So the thing with criticism
36:06and on online social media
36:08and the way the world works right now,
36:10it's so fast to get an essay
36:12written up for you by AI,
36:14it's so fast to get somebody telling you
36:16they don't like you,
36:17and it's so fast
36:18to have somebody say they stan you,
36:20they love you, whatnot.
36:20Right.
36:21All of these things can change so fast.
36:23Yeah.
36:24And do you feel like it's
36:25because people now don't appreciate,
36:27you mentioned the process actually,
36:30many people look towards
36:31the end goal of things
36:32without thinking of being able
36:34to enjoy the process
36:35of getting there as well.
36:37Yeah.
36:37They just want to have that
36:38ultimate ending of that joy.
36:40They want that happy ending.
36:41That's right.
36:41Without enjoying the journey
36:43of getting there.
36:43So there's no more
36:44delayed gratification.
36:45Therefore, there's no process.
36:47Therefore, there's no patience.
36:49And therefore, there's no,
36:50the worst part is there's no connection
36:52and appreciation to what you're doing.
36:54You know, even for me,
36:55I'm just like, you know,
36:56sometimes I find myself being like
36:58heading towards the direction
37:00of being addicted to praise
37:01or addicted to approval.
37:02So it's like, if I do something
37:04and quickly scroll,
37:05do people like it?
37:06And I'm like, oh my God,
37:08you never knew if anybody liked you
37:11between 98 and 2011
37:14and you did okay.
37:17So why are you doing this
37:19to yourself right now?
37:20Why are we doing this to ourselves?
37:23There is success without knowing
37:28there is approval.
37:30This cancel culture or,
37:33you know, I don't think it really exists.
37:36I know that it happens.
37:37It exists in what it is.
37:38Sometimes it's just like
37:39some people have said,
37:40it's not cancel culture.
37:41It's just repercussions
37:42of what you've done.
37:44Could be.
37:44A person just has to deal
37:46with their actions, right?
37:49The fallout of their own actions.
37:50Are human beings built to deal
37:52with 6 million people
37:54telling you you suck?
37:56One second?
37:58No.
37:59I think that's too much.
38:00And that's why we've got
38:01a decline in mental health.
38:03And that's why you do what you do.
38:05You're promoting it more
38:05in order to let people know.
38:06I think we're adept.
38:08We used to live in communities
38:10where we would get feedback
38:11from 10 people first
38:12and then 50 people
38:13and then 100
38:14and then whatnot and whatnot.
38:15It was a gradual feedback process.
38:17But now it's straight to the world.
38:20And I don't think we are able,
38:22the size of our brain
38:23and who we are
38:24to cope with that much information
38:26that fast.
38:27It's crazy because so much has changed
38:29in such a short while.
38:30We've reached this point
38:31in our lifetimes.
38:32And it feels like we progressed so far.
38:34If you could go back
38:36and give your younger self,
38:37you know, who just started out
38:38in the industry,
38:39one brutally honest piece of advice,
38:42knowing how far you've progressed
38:43to this point
38:44and how the world changed, right?
38:45What would it be?
38:46How would you prepare her?
38:48I'd probably tell myself
38:53that you're not really alone.
38:56Yeah.
38:57And to reach out
38:58and ask for help a bit earlier.
39:01Oh.
39:02Yeah.
39:03Because the fake it till you make it
39:05was really ruling my life.
39:07Like 24 seven.
39:09So even when I wasn't well,
39:11physically, mentally, emotionally,
39:13whatever it was,
39:14when there was health issues,
39:17when family members passed away
39:19or I just faked it.
39:22So it was constantly like,
39:24you know, I'd find that news
39:26of somebody being very sick
39:27or something terrible would happen.
39:28And I would just be like,
39:30you know,
39:31without any substance abuse.
39:34So I'm not saying like,
39:35well done, Serima.
39:36But it's not easy to do that.
39:39So I'd probably tell myself
39:40to share a bit more
39:44and reach out to my friends
39:46and not think that
39:47I was burdening people.
39:48That's probably why
39:50I'm championing mental health
39:52so much today
39:53and getting people to reach out.
39:55And I think they need to hear this.
39:57This is exactly why you do it, right?
39:59Don't be embarrassed.
40:02Don't think that you have to
40:04put on the mask all the time.
40:06Right. It's okay to be broken.
40:09It's okay to be not okay
40:10in any one moment.
40:12And nothing lasts forever.
40:14Nothing, not even happiness.
40:17How do you define happiness?
40:21Happiness is like
40:22when you're sitting here now
40:23and all of us are sitting here
40:24and our minds are like here, here now.
40:28And we're not anxious about the future
40:31or sad about the past.
40:32Wow.
40:34You've given me so much to think about.
40:36That's why we're happy.
40:37Yeah.
40:37Thank you for that.
40:38Because happy is not
40:39what we imagine it to be like.
40:41No, yeah.
40:42That's not happy.
40:42I don't think we're ever really happy.
40:44Yeah.
40:45I think it's a concept.
40:46In what we perceive
40:47or what we're told happiness is.
40:49I think there's only like contentment
40:51or like anxiety and sadness.
40:55Being content is like being happy.
40:57Yeah.
40:57Because you're in the moment
40:58and you're in a good place.
41:00Wow.
41:00Thank you so much for sharing that with us
41:02because it's given me a lot to think
41:04and I'm sure everyone is thinking
41:05as well right now.
41:06I'm thinking too.
41:07Thanks, Terry.
41:07So I'm going to spend the whole day going,
41:10what was I talking about?
41:12We're going to make you think some more now
41:13because it's time for the rapid fire questions.
41:16All right.
41:17Answer as quick as you can.
41:18Here we go.
41:19What's the best advice you've ever received
41:21and who gave it to you?
41:22Let them, let them.
41:23Just let people be who they are
41:24and let them show you who you are
41:25and don't be like,
41:26no, but you're much better than this.
41:29Who gave it to you?
41:31Mel Robbins, the writer.
41:32If you could play any role in a movie,
41:34past or present,
41:35what would it be?
41:36Psychological role.
41:38Somebody who looks weak
41:40but is actually strong.
41:42Oh, sounds like some Glenn Close role.
41:44Every Glenn Close role, maybe.
41:47Three words that describe you as a mother.
41:49Overachieving.
41:50Oh my God, that's two words.
41:53Overachieving.
41:54Manja, two manja.
41:56Needy.
41:56Needy, manja, overachieving.
41:58Great.
41:59Okay.
42:00There goes that.
42:01Love it.
42:02What's your ultimate comfort food
42:03after a long day?
42:04Crisps.
42:05Oh, flavours?
42:07Sour cream.
42:08And onion.
42:09Yes.
42:11If you could switch careers for a day,
42:13what would you do?
42:15Director came to my mind.
42:18Didn't know that.
42:20What's one thing people would be surprised
42:22to know about you?
42:24I'm an introvert.
42:25I don't like parties.
42:27Shocking.
42:28I just shocked myself there.
42:31No, I really am.
42:32I'm an extroverted introvert.
42:34And you've come to terms with that.
42:36I like sitting at home
42:37eating crisps in my pyjamas
42:39and binge watching TV shows
42:41and chilling with a blanket
42:44or just sitting by the beach,
42:45listening to the waves
42:47and eating crisps.
42:48And the crisps have to be salty.
42:50Why are there crisps everywhere?
42:52Yeah.
42:53Yeah, that's probably something
42:54people know it's not possible.
42:55And it's like, yes, it's very possible.
42:57Right.
42:57Final question.
42:58Oh, God.
42:59We ask this of everyone.
43:00If you had the opportunity
43:02to make one change
43:03as Prime Minister of Malaysia for a day,
43:07what would it be and why?
43:08So you're Prime Minister for a day.
43:11There would be a class in Dajasatu
43:14or Standard One
43:16called Psych Mental Health 101
43:20for everybody.
43:21From Standard.
43:22And it would be mandatory
43:23for parents to attend too.
43:25And it would be in every class
43:27and you couldn't pass school
43:29without passing it.
43:31Right.
43:32And that's why you do what you do.
43:33Yeah, so that everybody
43:35would understand that
43:37because we have PE class.
43:38So why don't we have ME,
43:40Mental Education or Mental.
43:42Right. So your first role
43:44as Prime Minister
43:44will become Education Minister.
43:47That's the first thing you do.
43:49Watch out, everyone.
43:52Thank you so much, Chae Puan,
43:55Sarimah Ibrahim for joining us.
43:57And giving us so much to think about.
43:59We look forward to hearing more from you
44:01on your social media,
44:02which is where we can go to.
44:03Yes, I'm on Instagram, TikTok.
44:05I'm trying to get my head around TikTok.
44:08Getting there.
44:08I started slow with the social media.
44:11So, you know, I'm getting there though.
44:13With the crisps on your side
44:14as you press the button.
44:15Crisps everywhere.
44:15Oh, my God, I need them.
44:17Thank you again for joining us.
44:18We appreciate you.
44:20Thank you so much.
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