SINGAPORE – Local Malay pop star Taufik Batisah threw a big bash to celebrate his wedding to Nursheehana Akbal earlier today. The event, held at the Muslim Delights wedding venue at Luzerne Building on Bendemeer Road, saw guests queuing up for hours to offer congratulations and well wishes to the happy couple.

The groom and bride were dressed in resplendent white outfits as they made their entrance to some bhangra music performed by a quartet. He later serenaded her on stage, singing one of his own songs, Hanya Kamu. Notable guests who attended included comedian Suhaimi Yusof and rapper Mark Bonafide.

Taufik, who is known for keeping mum about his private life announced his engagement last month, but said that the decision to get married had been made last year.

“We’re really old friends, even before I joined Singapore Idol, but we only got close in the last couple of years,” said Taufik, who took part in the singing competition in 2004. “I am such a difficult person and I can be so fickle and stubborn … it’s not easy for anyone to understand me. But she knows me inside out – she’s the one.

“People say the she’s lucky to be with me, but I’m really the lucky one to have her.”

He proposed to her by writing a special song for her. “We were in my car and I’ve always let her listen to the music I write first,” he explained. “So I played her this English song I wrote - which she thought was my next single. Even when it got to the chorus … And you know how in Boyz-II-Men songs, there’s this talking bit, and I mentioned how amazing she is … and how she still accepted me … she still didn’t get it.

“I had to stop the car and then bring out the ring to ask her if she would want to spend the rest of her life with me.”

Incidentally, it is Sheena’s voice featured on his hit song, #AwakKatMane. “And that’s the bit that everybody is talking about,” he said, adding that she should be credited for the success of the song. “She’s helping me in my career.”

Although the happy couple have no plans for a honeymoon yet – Taufik has to head off to Malaysia to do promotions for his latest album, Fique, which was just released there, as well as write songs for other artistes – he said that he would like to take time off to go to Europe. “I would love to do some simple backpacking and just have fun. Nothing fancy.”

As for starting a family, Taufik said he isn’t thinking about that yet, although he did add that he would like to have three children. “She doesn’t, she says two,” he quipped.

Taufik also said he will do his best to ensure that the media hoopla surrounding him doesn’t affect Sheena. “Social media has evolved into something that can be quite scary,” he said. “You get positive feedback but you also get feedback that is not so nice. I have learned to accept it.

“However, she is so chill ... about all the gossip. She is aware of what’s going on.”

He also said that she won’t give up her job. “I love an independent woman so she is still going to do her thing. I wouldn’t want her to just quit and follow me. That’s not fair for her ... She has her own career. I will discuss with her and see what she’s comfortable with.”

Will he make an album of love songs dedicated to her? “The thing is, I just put out this album (Fique) and I don’t really like to write love songs. I like to write sad songs because I think people tend to gravitate towards sad ballads a lot more,” he said.

However, he didn’t discount it totally. “I would love to do an English album and that song I wrote (for her) can be the first single! Like how Adele wrote sad songs when she broke up, right? This could be the opposite.”