Malaysian actress Sharifah Sakinah has once again caught public attention with her frank take on love and relationships. In a recent episode of the “Sembang Seram” podcast, the 36-year-old star opened up about her experiences dating both local and foreign men, and why she believes European men tend to be more responsible partners. Known for her unfiltered honesty, Sharifah shared that maturity, upbringing and emotional awareness often make all the difference in a relationship.
She explained that her observations aren’t meant to generalise, but to highlight how a person’s upbringing can shape their sense of responsibility. Having been through her share of relationships and marriages, the actress admitted she’s learned to value emotional intelligence and respect above everything else.
According to the star, her preferences aren’t about race, but about character and family values. “I’m not choosing based on race; it all depends on the person. There are terrible European men, too, but everything starts with how they were raised. I always look at how a man treats his mother and children; that tells me who he really is,” she said.
Now in her thirties, Sharifah admits that she often meets divorced men, but says maturity and commitment matter more than status. “If he knows how to care for his family, that’s what I’ll choose. I’ve dated men who’ve been married a few times but still practise co-parenting. That’s because they were raised by parents who taught responsibility from a young age,” she shared.
The “Qifarah” actress also believes that Western men tend to grow up in more open family environments, which leads to healthier attitudes towards love and loyalty. “From as young as 14 years old, their mums already talk openly about personal things and remind them to treat their partners well. So when they fall in love, that’s usually the woman they stay with. For them, it’s about compatibility, not looks,” she said.
She contrasted this with what she sees among some local men. “Some Malay men are obsessed with fair-skinned women, so much so that many women feel pressured to go through treatments just to fit their idea of beauty. But Western men appreciate my natural look. They give simple compliments that make me feel seen and appreciated,” she continued.
When it comes to marriage, the actress feels that European men take it more seriously because they understand the consequences of their actions. “In Sweden, if a man sleeps with a sex worker, it’s the man who gets arrested, not her. But in Malaysia, it’s the opposite. Even before marriage, they look through documents and think carefully, because divorce can be complicated, especially when it comes to property,” she explained. With a laugh, she added, “Some Malay men claim it’s love till death, but 10 years later they’re off with someone else, even after you’ve had children for them.”
Sakinah recently tied the knot with French artist Cyril Kongo earlier this year. She was previously married to Aliff Adha in 2015, with whom she shares an 8-year-old daughter, Anais. Their marriage ended in 2020, and two years later, her marriage to Swedish national Michael Hansen also came to a close.
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@sembangseram Takkan melayu hilang di dunia 💪🏻😂 #sharifahsakinah #sembangseram #podcast #horrorstory #kisahseram
Watch the full podcast here:
