KUALA LUMPUR: Legendary singer Datuk Jamal Abdillah said the 34 year age gap between him and his young wife proved to be a challenge, especially at the beginning of their marriage.
The 59-year-old artiste who tied the knot with Zai Izzati, 25, in April 2017, said it took him a year to adapt, and the process was not all rainbows and butterflies.
“Since we only met once before we got married, it was difficult at first. It was especially challenging since we come from two different generations.
“She is young and she spends a lot of time on social media which I’m not comfortable at all. On top of that, I can be impatient,” he said.
“We had to work hard around accepting our differences and learn to have tolerance towards each other.
“And after two years together, we have begun to understand each other better,” he said in a recent news report.
Jamal said that it felt good to have someone whom he can share everything with.
“Before this, I used to feel really lonely when I returned home from my performances, but that’s no longer the case,” he said.
“I’m really grateful to have met her,” he added.
Jamal’s marriage to Zai is his fourth. He was previously married to Basariah Abdul Latiff, Noraina Mohd Yusof and Fatimatuzahrah Samad respectively.
Jamal has two sons — Osama Yamani, 17, with Noraina and Ahmad Zaki Yamani, 11, from his marriage to Fatimatuzahrah.