KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian pop king Datuk Jamal Abdillah, 65, couldn't be bothered about public criticism after his recent announcement that his wife, Datin Zai Izzati Khiruddin, 28, was pregnant.
He said that his fifth child with Zai Izzati, expected to be born early next year, was a blessing from God that was impossible to refuse.
"I am aware that many negative comments have been thrown at me regarding this matter. But I take the approach of not caring about their words on social media.
"There is no denying that I once made a statement that I did not want to have any more children after the birth of my fourth (youngest) child more than a year ago.
"But sometimes we can't plan things like this because all this is determined by God and this is what is called rezeki.
"There are people who try so hard no matter what but if it's not their rezeki it won't work," he said in a Harian Metro report today.
Jamal addded he is thinking of his wife's safety and leaves it to her if she would want to conceive once more after this.
"I leave it to my wife on whether she is still willing to conceive again after this.
"We have consulted a medical specialist with regards to how safe it would be for her to give birth via surgery (C-section) for the fifth time.
"So we have to think about the safety factor regarding my wife and if she can still get pregnant again because she has been operated on for five times.
"I can't just think about myself but I have to think about my wife's willingness as well," he said.
Talking about having a baby at his age, Jamal said that it was like a form of therapy.
"Family life with children is fun. It's like therapy for me.
"I don't feel tired, angry or bored because they are my entertainment.
"After all, I'm not the type who likes to leave the house. After work, I go straight home and if I don't see them for a day, I really miss them," he said.
Jamal, who hopes his newborn will be a girl, added: "So when I get home, I will kiss them and then go to sleep with my kids."
The enduring aritste married Zai Izzati on April 1, 2017, and have four children together, namely Nur Azura Yamani, 5, El Isaac Yamani, 4, Iskandar Rayyan Yamani, 2, and Rahil Laura Salsabila Yamani who is now over a year old.
Jamal also has two sons from a previous marriage, Osama Yamani, 21, and Ahmad Zaki Yamani, 17.
Meanwhile, Jamal will be performing with Datuk Seri Rossa, Joe Flizzow and Dayang Nurfaizah at the Divas & Diamonds 2024 Concert, set to happen at the Larkin Arena in Johor Baru, on Sept 7.