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THE engagement of Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and local artiste Bella Astillah has captured public attention for its distinctive and symbolic approach, with gifts centred on financial security and family well-being rather than convention.
Held in an intimate ceremony, the exchange of engagement gifts (hantaran) stood out for its emphasis on long-term planning, with offerings that extended beyond traditional items to include savings instruments and education funds.
Among the items presented were an engagement ring symbolising their formal union, along with savings contributions to Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad and Tabung Haji for Bella.
Additional gifts included education savings schemes for her two children, Mohamad Ayden Adrean, nine, and Ara Adreanna, six.
“Syed Saddiq’s engagement gifts were themed around the future, including an engagement ring, ASNB savings for Bella Astillah, Tabung Haji savings for Bella Astillah, SSPN for Ayden, and SSPN for Ara.
“Alhamdulillah, the ceremony has concluded. Saddiq is now engaged,” according to a social media post shared after the event.”
The event saw five trays of gifts from Syed Saddiq’s side exchanged with seven from Bella’s family, in keeping with customary practice, while the engagement ring was placed on Bella’s finger by his mother.
Reflecting on the milestone, Syed Saddiq described himself as fortunate and spoke at length about his admiration for his fiancée’s character and resilience.
“That’s the most important. I get to see a different side, ‘the most exceptional, talented iron lady, Bella Astillah’. Maybe you know Bella as family, as a friend, see her success on stage.
“But I’m lucky to see a different side of Bella. A woman who never understands the word tired. Even in exhaustion, she finds her way to rise again.
“In every setback, she finds her own path to stand up again. There is one word I can summarise, ‘it’s not just she’s an iron lady, but she is a very kind woman,” he said.
He added that kindness defines her relationships not only with family but also with strangers.
“She is kind to her family, her parents, my family, her siblings. But more importantly, she is kind to people she has never even met before.
“That’s why I feel I am in a very good place because I knew Bella before I fell in love with her. As a friend, that is important. Because as a friend, you see a different side of a person.
“But what is even more admirable is Bella Astillah as a mother to two amazing children, Ara and Ayden,” he said.
Syed Saddiq also spoke about embracing Bella’s children as part of his life.
“I want to make it clear here, I love Bella because of her two children as well, Ayden and Ara. I hope Ayden and Ara can accept me,” he said.
The ceremony, attended by family members and prominent figures from the entertainment industry, also drew warm reactions online. Bella’s son expressed his happiness over the engagement, saying, “I am very happy for them. There is one more person in our small family.” - March 28, 2026
