Zarina Zainuddin is a name that resonates well in the Malaysian movie world. Film buffs will instantly recognise her for her role as the difficult Puan Intan on the 30-episode Ramadhan telemovie 30 Pesanan Suara (30 Voice Messages) on TV3 recently.
Last year, she was in several telemovies shown across TV2, TV3 and Astro Ria such as Luyak, Halalkan Hati Yang Ku Curi, Mencari Qiblat and Tak Ada Cinta Sepertimu. On the silver screen, she is best remembered for her roles in Girlfriend Kontrak (2015), Sejoli: Misi Cantas Cinta (2014), Ular (2013) and many others.
Zarina has, to date, over 40 feature films and television movies under her belt since launching her acting career in 1989.
Despite her busy on-set schedule, Zarina embarked on an entrepreneurial journey with a food catering business in 2017. The business, founded on her culinary skills cooking Pulut Kuning and Rendang, began as a home-based venture but soon had many appreciative customers ordering from the four corners of Malaysia. Today, her brand Pulut Kuning Zarina Zainuddin has expanded to become a major enterprise, satisfying not just those interested in eating packed lunches and other Malaysian-made delicacies but also those intending to serve pulut kuning on a large scale during kenduri, weddings, wedding anniversaries and so on.
Twin Challenges
Behind the curtain of glitter though, lies a starker side to Zarina’s personal life, not much of which is known to the public. For instance, many people don’t know that Zarina is a mother of four sons ranging in ages from teens to the 20s. Her eldest two boys ─ Muhammad Razil Azrai (Azil) and Muhammad Raizal Azrai (Azal) are twins. They are both 23 and both have been born with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Azil and Azal were diagnosed at the age of three, and at the time, as Zarina says in the video, she did not know anything about the disorder and how to deal with it.
Azal has the milder version of autism and seems to be able to speak well, reply coherently when spoken to, sing, memorize lyrics and respond and behave reasonably well in social settings. He can be trusted to walk to school, cross the road by himself, help around the house and seems to be making steady developmental progress as can be seen from the posts on Zarina’s Instagram account. Azril, on the other hand, is less communicative, appears hyperactive, has frequent meltdowns and can be unpredictably violent, sometimes towards others but mostly to himself.
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a complicated neurodevelopmental condition with symptoms that can range across a wide spectrum ─ hence its name. No two persons afflicted by it behave exactly the same way, even if they are twins. Generally, ASD is characterised by social withdrawal, communication disturbances and impaired social functioning.
The fact that the twins are now strapping grown men with strength and energy to match makes it all the more harder for Zarina to cope or deal with, especially when they throw tantrumsZarina. The risk for harm to others and to themselves at this stage is far greater than when they were little boys.
As Zarina says in an article in the News Straits Times earlier this year, she has been given medication by the doctor to calm her sons when needed but she doesn’t have the heart to use it because it keeps them sedated and physically weak.
It’s a huge dilemma and Zarina, 49, often worries about what will happen to her twins, especially Azril, when she goes one day. “Hopefully Azil will know how to take care of himself when I’m no longer around,” she has been quoted to say many times in interviews and on her own Instagram posts.
This is a concern that is shared by all parents of Special Needs children and this is why Zarina occasionally puts up videos of her children and shares posts such as this one so that all who face the same struggles may be inspired to gather the strength and patience needed to face their adversities.
As she has said in her posts: “I am grateful for God’s grace and blessing in making our lives constantly imperfect because God is always testing the faithful. May you also be in God’s good grace and mercy.”
Help with Autism through SONY AXP55
The camera being used for the shooting of this video is SONY AXP55 handycam with built in projector. As is understood, autistic children have difficulties with social interaction, expression and communication. They are “loners” who do not like strangers to come too close to them. Many prefer to avoid eye contact or any form of direct engagement.
In this way, the SONY AXP55 is perfect for non-intrusive distance recording. With its high zoom and stabiliser, recording of those who do not like devices being pointed at them can be kept at a distance, yet every expression, movement and sound will be captured with crystal clarity. Furthermore, the handycam has features like built-in memory and longlife battery that facilitates daily recordings that would be very helpful in keeping track of the child’s development and progress.
These recordings can then be played back via the SONY AXP55’s built-in projector creating a mini-cinema environment for a full sound and colour activity with them. It has been said by many Autism experts, programmes and research that storytelling or social story narration to children with ASD helps teach and guide them to navigate unfamiliar social situations ─ whether in a classroom or a birthday party or restaurant. Movie playback, picture-taking and story narration help improve the child’s language, listening and non-verbal communication skills while teaching appropriate behaviours.
Furthermore, it captures all those fleeting memories that would otherwise be lost and as a tool for autism therapy, video observation is perfect for diagnosis.