The Sabah home of veteran Hongkong singer Maria Cordero had its power cut after the star failed to pay utility bills for more than a year.

In a Facebook live broadcast last week, Maria, who is affectionately known as Fei Ma, shared that due to the ongoing pandemic, she hasn’t been back to her mansion in Kota Kinabalu. As a result, she was unable to pay the bills, and now has to deal with water and power cuts.

I asked the management of the residential area to pay the bills on my behalf, but they said that this is not allowed, so I feel very distressed. I don't know how many days it will take for me to clean up the house when I go back in the future,” Maria, 67, lamented.

Like many celebrities, Maria has a keen eye for real estate and has invested in a number of properties over the years. In addition to homes in Hongkong, she also owns five properties in China and Malaysia.

Apart from Sabah, she reportedly owned a home in Kuala Lumpur, but has since sold it.

Sabah might seem like an unlikely choice for investment, but Maria likes it for its quiet and serene environment. Her 3,600 sq ft mansion is decked out with Chinese antique furniture and has a roof top pool and unblocked mountain views.

Recalling the good times spent in Sabah with her late husband, Rick da Silva, she said: My husband liked to hike and take photos near our home in Sabah. He could also go golfing and fishing nearby. We often sat on the patio and enjoyed the sunset together.

She added that Rick, who passed away from lung cancer last November, loved Sabah so much, he would not want to return to Hongkong after every trip.

Malaysia is like a second home to Maria. Prior to the pandemic, she would visit the country almost every three months. I really miss my Malaysian friends and nasi lemak! she said.

Well, us too, Maria. Us too.

Photos: Maria Cordero/Facebook