20/02/2026

LYFE FRIDAY | FEB 20, 2026

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Layla Sania’s CNY debut

o Blending cultures with festive single

people from far away come back and it is a time for you to share,” she told theSun . As a Malay artiste active in the Mandarin music scene, she said the festive season gives her a chance to reconnect with friends and experience culture up close. “I honestly feel like it is a time for me to meet people that I have not seen in a long time. Because I am Malay and many of my friends are Chinese, going to their celebrations, seeing their culture and eating together is such a fun thing,” she said. Xin Nian Re Nao was co composed and co-written with her father, making it a family collaboration. While many festive songs lean heavily on familiar

approached it with respect and sincerity,” she said. She added that the response since its release has been encouraging. “After recording it, I felt relieved and proud. And after releasing it, I feel incredibly grateful. Seeing the positive response and support from people of different backgrounds has been very humbling. It reminds me why music is such a powerful bridge between cultures.” Layla, who went to Chinese schools and continues to study Mandarin at university, said CNY has always been more about people than performance. “For me, it is just like any celebration. It is a time where everybody gathers together and meets their relatives. Sometimes

Ű BY AMEEN HAZIZI

L AYLA Sania recently launched her self composed Chinese New Year (CNY) single Xin Nian Re Nao , marking what she described as a deeply personal milestone in her career. The 24-year-old singer, who began learning Mandarin at the age of two, said releasing her first CNY song came with mixed emotions. “Honestly, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness before recording it. I wanted to make sure I

Xin Nian Re Nao translates to ‘Joyous and lively New Year’, with re nao

describing the bustling festive

atmosphere typical of CNY celebrations.

abroad. Layla said curiosity often follows her performances in Taiwan and China, but not discrimination. “Mostly it is curiosity. They will ask, are you Malay, are you Muslim, but you can speak Chinese? It is a language. Anybody can learn Chinese,” she said. Looking ahead, she expressed hopes that the song will carry a message beyond festive cheer. “My hope is, if this song can make even one person feel seen, included, or curious about another culture, then I feel I have already succeeded,” she said. Xin Nian Re Nao is now available on digital streaming platforms, with a Hari Raya follow-up planned as part of a two-part festive project.

formulas, Layla said she wanted to try something different. “It is my first CNY song. If I release something that sounds the same as everyone else, it will not stand out. So I tried something cooler, something different from my usual image,” she said. She also revealed the track incorporates Malay musical elements. “In this song, we actually put a few Malay instruments inside. I feel like it is such a fun thing if we can include Malaysian culture. We are not just Malay or Chinese. We are Malaysians,” she said. The launch also highlighted her growing presence within the Mandarin market, locally and

Layla is building her career within Malaysia’s Mandarin music scene.

Jack Ng aims for Night King to surpass previous box office records NIGHT King director Jack Ng has expressed his high hopes for the 2026 Chinese New Year (CNY) film, stating his ambition for the movie to exceed the record-breaking success of his previous hit A Guilty Conscience . While Malaysian-born actress Fish Liew jokingly remarked he had set the “bar too high“, the director emphasised this serves as the ultimate motivation for the team’s continuous evolution. promotional tour in Kuala Lumpur. Sammi Cheng discovers ‘treasure’ in Dayo Wong Returning to Malaysia to meet her fans after a long hiatus, Cheng takes on the role of Madame V, the formidable CEO of a high-end nightclub. Reflecting on her collaboration with Dayo Wong, Cheng described him as a “treasure” and a “new landmark”. this project, I’ve discovered so many new facets of his talent and I look forward to future collaborations,” she shared. Cheng also playfully revealed she added a signature mole near her lip specifically for the character – a detail that even Dayo found intriguing – showcasing her

dedication to the character’s depth. Its public fan meeting in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur saw the mall pack with over 5,000 fans. Making her first movie promotional appearance in Malaysia in a decade, Cheng was greeted by chants of “ hou gwai leng! (stunningly beautiful)”. The Cantonese Superstar responded with a grin: “After watching the Night King , make sure to catch my concert!” Local stars shine The event took an emotional turn when Ng announced on stage that Liew had been nominated for Best Actress at the 44th Hong Kong Film Awards for her role in The Love Like This . As a Malaysian talent, Liew was visibly moved. Cheng immediately offered a warm embrace and led the crowd in a collective cheer of “Congratulations!” in a touching

“His understanding of the character is incredibly meticulous and the sparks between us were palpable in every scene. Through

Earlier last week, Ng led the cast, which included Cantopop superstar Sammi Cheng, Liew and local favourite Miko Wong, for a

From left: Miko, Ng, Cheng and Liew during the fan meet-and-greet.

Uncut and authentic Ng emphasised the Malaysian release of the Night King will be identical to the Hong Kong version – uncut and fully authentic. He praised the Malaysian Film Censorship Board for being increasingly open-minded, allowing local audiences to experience the film exactly as intended. Night King is now showing in cinemas nationwide.

display of camaraderie. Ng also gave a special shout-out to the actresses – particularly Miko – for their professionalism. He revealed with 8.00am call times, the cast often had to begin hair and makeup as early as 3.00am. Despite the gruelling schedule, Miko remained in high spirits throughout. An avid runner, Miko jokingly suggested that everyone should “run together to the Oriental Nightclub” this CNY to support the film. She also served as the host of this tour.

Liew (second from left), Ng (third from left), Cheng and Miko (far right) taking pictures with the fans at the meet-and-greet.