Asmah Laili
{{Short description|Singaporean radio and television presenter and producer (1940–2019)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Asmah Laili
| image = Asmah_Laili_died_2019.jpg
| alt =
| caption = fair use image
| other_names =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 24 September 1940
| birth_place =
| death_date = 15 February 2019
| death_place = Singapore
| nationality =
| occupation = Chef, television presenter, radio presenter and producer
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
}}
Asmah Laili (24 September 1940 – 15 February 2019) was a Singaporean radio and television presenter and producer, who also became famous for her programs and publications on Malay cuisine.
Career
Asmah Laili began working at Singapore Broadcasting Corporation in 1959,{{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/celebrity-chef-and-radio-personality-asmah-laili-dies-aged-78|title=Celebrity chef and radio personality Asmah Laili dies, aged 78|last=|first=|date=2019-02-15|website=The Straits Times|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215181156/https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/celebrity-chef-and-radio-personality-asmah-laili-dies-aged-78 |archive-date=2019-02-15 |access-date=2019-12-28}} as a protégée of Zahrah Za'ba, the company's first female executive.{{Cite web|url=https://www.swhf.sg/profiles/zahrah-zaba/|title=Zahrah Za'ba: Pioneer of Malay Broadcasting|last=|first=|date=|website=Singapore Women's Hall of Fame|language=en-GB|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518184609/https://www.swhf.sg/profiles/zahrah-zaba/ |archive-date=2019-05-18 |access-date=2019-12-28}} Asmah anchored programs on Warna 94.2FM, and was an executive producer for the Malay radio station in Singapore, working with writer Jah Lelawati among others.{{Cite web|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1130_2006-04-05.html|title=Jah Lelawati|last=|first=|date=|website=Singapore Infopedia|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423121129/http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1130_2006-04-05.html |archive-date=2015-04-23 |access-date=2019-12-28}} She was the first woman to work as a television presenter in Singapore, and was a mentor to aspiring female broadcasters who followed. She retired from broadcasting in 1997.{{Cite web|url=https://www.beritaharian.sg/setempat/personaliti-radio-popular-asmah-laili-meninggal-dunia|title=Personaliti radio popular Asmah Laili meninggal dunia, Berita Setempat - BeritaHarian.sg|last=Nur Dhuha Esoof|date=2019-02-16|website=BeritaHarian|language=ms|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228165118/https://www.beritaharian.sg/setempat/personaliti-radio-popular-asmah-laili-meninggal-dunia |archive-date=2019-12-28 |access-date=2019-12-28}} In 2003, she was the subject of an episode of Ikon wanita, a documentary series on Muslim women in Singapore.{{Citation|last1=Mohd|first1=Norzalina|title=Ikon wanita|date=2003|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/13407067|publisher=Singapore : MediaCorp TV12 Singapore|language=Malay|access-date=2019-12-28|last2=Olek|first2=Mohamad Sanif|last3=Zakaria|first3=Zuzanita|last4=Patterson|first4=Brett Azeem|last5=Kamari|first5=Noridah|last6=Aziz|first6=Johari Abdul|last7=Aliff|first7=Gina|last8=Embit|first8=Ainah|last9=Films|first9=Oak 3}}
As a celebrity chef, she was known affectionately as "Mami Asmah", and demonstrated Malay cookery on radio and television shows in Singapore,{{Citation|last1=Laili|first1=Asmah|title=Oh Mommy, yummy! : resipi pilihan|date=2002|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/32507381|publisher=Singapore : Picture Mills : MediaCorp Radio Warna 94.2 FM|language=Malay|access-date=2019-12-28|last2=FM|first2=Mediacorp Radio Warna 94 2}} as host of Sedap and Dapur Mami. She also wrote cookbooks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/veteran-celebrity-chef-asmah-laili-dies-aged-78-11247368|title=Veteran celebrity chef Asmah Laili dies aged 78|last=|first=|date=February 15, 2019|website=Channel News Asia|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215161604/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/veteran-celebrity-chef-asmah-laili-dies-aged-78-11247368 |archive-date=2019-02-15 |access-date=2019-12-28}}{{Cite book|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/36722971|title=Asmah Laili : mintak ampun sedapnya...Fiesta|last1=Laili|first1=Asmah|last2=Ahmad|first2=Suraya|date=2003|publisher=Singapore : Q-zeen|isbn=978-981-04-9511-4|language=Malay}} In 2009 she released a cooking DVD, Tanya Mami (Ask Mami).{{Citation|last1=Fadila Abdul Wahid|title=Tanya Mami, Asmah Laili|date=2009|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/434303362|publisher=Muse Pte Ltd|oclc=434303362|access-date=2019-12-28|last2=Asmah Laili|last3=Jualiani Jumali}}
Personal life and death
Asmah Laili married in 1967,{{Cite web|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/beritaharian19671108-1.2.56?ST=1&AT=search&k=Asmah%20Laili&QT=asmah,laili&oref=article|title=Asmah Laili na' nikah dengan 'rakan' pejabat|last=|first=|date=8 November 1967|website=Berita Harian|page=5|via=NewspaperSG|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-12-28}} and had two children; she lived in Bedok. She died at Changi General Hospital in 2019, aged 78 years, from lung disease. Her body was interred at Choa Chu Kang Muslim Cemetery after her death.
References
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Category:Singaporean radio producers
Category:Singaporean radio presenters
Category:Singaporean television presenters