KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran singer-actress Noor Kumalasari's prayers have finally been answered on the first day of Hari Raya.
She finally had the chance to chat with her elder sister, veteran pop singer Anita Sarawak who has been living in Las Vegas, the United States for a decade.
Noor, 67, spent half an hour on the phone catching up with Anita, 71, at the home of their elder sister Noraini Mohamad Taib on April 22.
"This is the best Raya I have had. After 10 years, I have finally got to speak to Nita. Thank God my prayers have been answered," said Noor in an interview with Berita Harian Online yesterday.
Noor and her siblings have always gathered at Noraini's house on the first day of Hari Raya to await a phone call from Anita. Alas, Anita did not call them during Raya, but she and Noraini have spoken in other months.
Noor said: "We had a hearty and interesting chat, something I have sorely missed all these years.
"Nita called when I was performing my prayers, and like the wonderful sister she always is, she waited for me to complete my prayers."
Noor learnt that Anita did send her a birthday greeting last year, but somehow it "did not reach" her.
"The last time we had a good chat was a month or so before Nita went to the United States."
Noor also said that Anita and her husband Mahathir Abdullah were happy living as "ordinary folk" in Las Vegas.
"Nita and Mahathir are enjoying their anonymity in Las Vegas, far away from the stress of being a celebrity."
Noor is the daughter of the late film star Datuk S. Roomai Noor from his second marriage to actress Datin Umi Kalthum while Anita is Roomai's daughter from his earlier marriage to actress Siput Sarawak.