Daphne Iking convert to muslim?

KUALA LUMPUR: Actress and TV personality Daphne Eleanor Iking (pic) has confirmed rumours on the Internet she has converted to Islam and married businessman Azmi Abdul Rahman, otherwise known as Joe.

The 32-year-old Sabahan confirmed her marriage in an interview with The Malay Mail.

For almost two years now, Daphne has been a party in a court case in which her former husband, Ryan Chong Yiing Yih, 33, filed a private summons against corporate figure Darren Choy Khin Ming, 46, under Section 498 of the Penal Code for “enticing or taking away or detaining with a criminal intent a married woman”.

Since then, the winner of the 23rd Malaysian Film Festival’s Most Promising Actress for her role in Belukar has been the centre of much gossip involving her personal life.

“When we decided to get married, naturally, conversion was a big issue,” she said.

“It took me some time because I did not want to convert simply for the sake of marriage alone.”

Daphne said she finally felt she was ready to take the plunge last December. She went ahead with embracing Islam and the solemnisation ceremony, or akad nikah, both on Jan 8.

“A small celebration was held after the nikah with my family in my hometown with my nearest and dearest.”

Daphne has one child, four-year-old Isobel Daniella Iking.

“My extended family in the ntv7 production team and, of course, the Celepets (comprising celebrities Atilia Haron, Aishah Sinclair, Sazzy Falak, Dynas Moktar , Yasmin Hani and Serena Choong) were in the know."

Being her second attempt at nuptial bliss, Daphne said she thought t h e actual marriage was more important
than the wedding itself.

“For now, we’ve planned a closed event for orphans as well as some close friends here.”

The co-host of ntv7’s Bella, along with beauties Deborah Henry and Elaine Daly, shrugged off the couple’s silence over the marriage.

“We were introduced through mutual friends and we are business partners,” she said, while reluctant to divulge more details.

“He is a businessman and keeps a low profile, so he prefers not to be interviewed or to be in the spotlight.”

The couple were spotted along with production colleagues at the Mary J. Blige concert in Kuala Lumpur recently.

malaymail