So sad.
Lost a dear friend in Yanie Julkarim yesterday.
The Bajau beauty finished third in TV3 talent search Mentor Season 1 in 2005 as the protege of R&B queen Ning Baizura (my fellow Ipoh native).
Yanie was the cousin of Mentor 1 champion Norafizah (Pija) Yasin who later took part in 8TV reality talent show One In A Million Season 3 (OIAM3).
Both girls are related to the late, great Father of Sabah Independence Tun Datu Mustapha Datu Harun, prince of Sulu, descendant of the legendary freedom fighter Datu Mat Salleh.
My report.
Singer and actress Siti Surianie Julkarim, better known as Yanie, succumbed to lung cancer at Keningau Hospital in Sabah yesterday.
The 25-year-old from Kota Kinabalu rose to fame in 2005 after finishing third in TV3 talent search Mentor Season 1. She was the protege of Ning Baizura.
Ning described Yanie as positive, disciplined and hardworking. “We’ve remained close since Mentor 1 ended and last met in July,” she said.
Yanie’s cousins, Mentor 1 champion Norafizah ‘Pija’ Yasin and singer Naufara Yasin were devastated.
Pija said: “Yanie was a soul mate to both of us.”
Naufara said: “She believed in being versatile.”
Akademi Fantasia 2 singer and choreographer Adam Mat Saman (grandson of Sabah Governor Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah) described Yanie as a hardworking and talented star. “I’ll miss her caring ways and radiant smile,” he said.
Malaysian Idol 1 finalist Nikki Palikat who performed the song Drama with Yanie and Ning said: “Despite her pain, Yanie always appeared cheerful and caring.”
Actor and producer Farish Aziz (Adam's cousin) described Yanie as a starlet ‘gone too soon’.
Akademi Fantasia singers and actresses Norashikin Rahman (of Labuan) and Nora Daud (of Sandakan, niece of rock group Atomic Power's founder Zakaria Buang) described Yanie as a ‘gem of a woman’ who was always humble and compassionate.
Yanie is survived by her husband Irfin Manan (of Tambunan, like Palikat), 30 and a year-old daughter Iris Sofea.
