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Monday October 11, 2010
Astronaut finds his perfect doc
By MAZWIN NIK ANIS
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PUTRAJAYA: Oct 10 will always be a special date for Angkasawan Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor – three years ago on this date, he became the first Malaysian to be launched into space to the International Space Station (ISS). The date was made even more significant for the doctor-turned-astronaut when he tied the knot yesterday with his longtime girlfriend Dr Halina Mohd Yunos. The happy couple, who have been going out for eight years, solemnised their marriage at the picturesque Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin mosque here, witnessed by their family members, friends and hordes of the astronaut’s fans.
Astro-knight in shining baju: Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor sealing the deal with his bride Dr Halina at the 'akad nikah' Sunday.
Among those present were the groom’s parents Datuk Sheikh Mustafa Shukor and Datin Zuraidah Sheikh Ahmad and parents of the bride Dr Halina’s father Lt Col Mohd Yunos Ali and Habibah Endan. Dr Sheikh Muszaphar, 38, arrived at 11am while his 30-year-old bride, an anaesthetist and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) doctor at the Selayang Hospital, arrived 10 minutes later.
The couple was resplendent – he in an ivory-hued baju melayu and cream-coloured songket samping and she in a beaded French-lace baju kebaya, carrying a bouquet of white roses. The bride’s father solemnised the marriage with Federal Territories Religious Affairs Department director Datuk Che Mat Che Ali acting as witness.
Dr Sheikh Muszaphar appeared to be slightly nervous before the akad nikah and looked relieved when he successfully completed the solemnisation. The couple exchanged rings and Dr Halina beamed as her new husband slipped a diamond-encrusted platinum ring onto her finger. When met after the ceremony, the Angkasawan was thankful that the akad nikah went on smoothly and thanked his fans for supporting him in his “most crucial mission”. “Alhamdulillah, I am happy that we are finally married.
“We had planned for this years ago but due to my commitment to the space programme, we had to wait. Today, Dr Halina has finally become my wife. We will go for our honeymoon after performing the Haj,” he said. Dr Halina was also thankful that the “day I have been waiting for” had finally come. The bersanding ceremony, held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre last night, was attended by 1,200 guests who included members of the royalty and the Cabinet.
