TWENTY candidates AF7

TWENTY candidates have been shortlisted as students-cum-contestants of popular reality talent show Akademi Fantasia’s for its seventh season (AF7).

They are Sabahans Abraham Dungot, 26, of Ranau, Cabby Solibun, 20, of Kota Kinabalu, Faezah Manaf, 20, of Keningau, Lizda Abidin, 27, of Tawau, Rubisa Tiasin, 23, of Kota Marudu and Zizi Tahil, 24, of Semporna; Sarawakians Aishah Bujang, 18, Claudia Geres, 24, and Hafiz Suip, 19, of Kuching and Kelana Ayu, 40, of Bintulu; Hakim Ahmad, 18, Hamim Suleiman, 21, Sobri Hasmuni, 24, Yazid Ibrahim, 22 and Nas Adila Mohd Dan, 23, of Johor Baru; Qhaud Rashid, 25 and Zuzafrini Zulkifli, 25, of Kajang; Khairil Azam Pilus, 24, of Malacca; Rashidi Isa, 27, of Ipoh and Ismaliza Ismail, 30, of Rembau.

Dungot is no stranger to reality television having finished fourth in One In A Million 2 last year. Rubisa was a finalist in My Starz LG’s first season last year, while Nas Adila and Zuzafrini are recording artistes.

Ismaliza’s brother is popular singer Tomok (Shah Indrawan Ismail), a One In A Million 3 contestant, while Khairil’s brother Izwan Pilus is a former Bintang RTM winner, host and recording artiste.

The candidates were announced at Parkroyal Hotel, Jalan Sultan Ismail in Kuala Lumpur by Astro Ria channel manager Khairul Mizan Shagull recently.
Khairul Mizan said all of them would undergo a final round of “intensive tests” this week to ensure that only the most deserving end up as contestants.

“With the help of the AF7 academic team, Astro Ria will make sure that only those who sing well and carry themselves well will make it,” he said.

He said those confirmed as students will be announced on the Astro Ria programme Tirai AF7 at 9pm tomorrow and on Sunday.

As for the AF7 principal, Khairul Mizan said he or she will be announced in the daily AF7 roundup, Diari AF7, at 9pm on Monday.

The principal helms the academic team comprising actress Ida Nerina as acting and performance instructor, A. Aris Kadir as choreography instructor, Hashridz Murshim Hassim (Acis) as music director, Siti Hajar Ismail and Syafizawati Sharif as vocal coaches, and Fatimah Abu Bakar as motivational and English language coach.

Khairul Mizan said the contestants will spend 10 weeks in an undisclosed “academy” learning the ropes of show business from their instructors.

The contestants will perform in weekly elimination concerts at 9pm on Saturdays, beginning March 14, with the contestant obtaining the lowest number of SMS votes from viewers being eliminated.

The concerts on Astro Ria are hosted by comedian AC Mizal, while the weekly AF diaries shows Diari AF, Diari Ext AF7 and Diari Int AF7 are hosted by actress and television personality Sarimah Ibrahim.

Diari AF7 is at 9pm from Mondays to Fridays while Diari Ext AF7 is at 10pm on Fridays and Diari Int AF7 is at 9pm on Sundays.

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 8th, 2009 at 9:54 pm and is filed under TV. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.