KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysian politician Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and singer-actress Bella Astillah are just days away from their wedding, with the couple preparing for a series of celebrations that will take them from Kuala Lumpur to Johor and Sabah.
The Muar Member of Parliament, 33, and Bella, 32, are scheduled to solemnise their marriage on Oct. 10, 2026, at the 118th floor of Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur. The ceremony will feature an all-white theme incorporating Arab and Islamic elements.
The couple’s wedding preparations have also become the subject of an eight-episode Astro documentary, giving fans a closer look at their relationship, families and preparations for the big day. The series began airing on Oct. 6, with the solemnisation ceremony and later celebrations also set to be featured.
From a private relationship to a public wedding
Syed Saddiq and Bella kept their relationship relatively private for much of the past year, although fans increasingly noticed clues through their social-media posts and public appearances.
Their relationship eventually became public, followed by a surprise proposal on Mount Kinabalu. The couple became engaged on March 28, 2026, in a ceremony attended by close family and friends.
The couple have since been affectionately nicknamed “BASS”, formed from their initials — Bella Astillah and Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
The nickname has become part of their wedding branding and appears across their social-media updates and Astro’s documentary campaign.
Wedding at one of Kuala Lumpur’s most prominent landmarks
The main solemnisation ceremony will take place at Level 118 of Merdeka 118, one of Kuala Lumpur’s most recognisable landmarks.
The couple previously announced that the ceremony would follow an all-white concept with Arab and Islamic influences, reflecting their families’ wishes.
Despite the impressive location, Syed Saddiq has said the couple were not focused on having an excessively lavish wedding.
Instead, their main ceremony will reportedly have a relatively intimate guest list of around 200 people.
The Oct. 10 ceremony will also be broadcast live, allowing the public to follow the couple’s solemnisation.
Astro has said the ceremony will air on Astro Ria, Astro Prima and Astro Awani, with streaming available through Sooka and Astro GO.
Four celebrations across Malaysia
The Oct. 10 solemnisation is only the beginning of the couple’s wedding celebrations.
They are scheduled to hold a reception in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 18, with the event to be broadcast live as part of Astro’s “Wedding of the Year” programme.
The celebrations will then move to Muar, Johor, on Oct. 25, where the couple plan to hold a public “Kenduri Rakyat” — essentially a people’s feast.
The event is expected to be much larger than the private Kuala Lumpur ceremony, with the couple inviting members of the public to join the celebrations.
The final public celebration will take place in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, on Oct. 31.
Although Bella was born in Sandakan, she clarified that the Sabah celebration would be held in Kota Kinabalu because of logistical considerations.
‘Kenduri Rakyat’ with a charitable element
The Muar and Kota Kinabalu celebrations are intended to be more community-oriented than conventional private wedding receptions.
Syed Saddiq said the couple wanted members of the public to be able to participate rather than restricting the celebrations to invited guests.
The Muar reception is expected to attract thousands of people. The couple have also prepared 10,000 special souvenirs to be distributed to guests at the two public receptions on a first-come, first-served basis.
In Muar, the couple will also work with local brands to distribute more than RM300,000 (about S$94,000) worth of daily essentials to families in need.
The initiative is part of their “Kenduri Rakyat” concept and adds a community-service element to the wedding celebrations.
Bella’s customised songket and wedding fashion
The couple’s wedding preparations have also highlighted traditional Malaysian craftsmanship.
Bella ordered custom-made songket from Terengganu Songket for the celebrations. The material is being produced by the company associated with the late national master craftswoman Hajah Zainab @ Ngah Mamat.
According to the company’s director, the order was complex and highly detailed, requiring close supervision during production.
Bella has also worked with fashion adviser Faizul Surani, group CEO of the Rizalman Ibrahim Group of Companies, on her wedding outfits.
The designer said Bella was closely involved in decisions about the fabrics, threads and overall appearance of the outfits, with the aim of creating something distinctive rather than relying on off-the-rack designs.
The preparations are among the details featured in the couple’s Astro documentary.
A wedding shaped by family
The couple’s preparations have also included the mandatory kursus kahwin, or marriage course, for Muslim couples.
The course was sponsored by Renaissance Kuala Lumpur and Four Points Kuala Lumpur City Centre, which also provided meals for the couple during the sessions.
The documentary also revisits their engagement and the gifts Syed Saddiq presented to Bella.
His engagement gifts included an Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad savings account, a Tabung Haji savings account for Bella and National Education Savings Scheme accounts for Bella’s two children, Ayden Adrean and Ara Adreanna.
Syed Saddiq said the gifts reflected his intention to build a family with Bella and her children, rather than treating the marriage as a relationship involving only the couple.
Bella was previously married to Singaporean actor Aliff Aziz and has two children from that marriage. Her previous marriage ended in divorce in 2019 and again in 2024.
Wedding comes after Syed Saddiq’s legal battle
The wedding also follows a significant period in Syed Saddiq’s political and legal life.
The former youth and sports minister was convicted by the High Court in 2023 on charges including criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of property and money laundering.
However, he was acquitted by the Court of Appeal in June 2025, with the Federal Court subsequently reaffirming the acquittal in July 2026. Bella attended the court proceedings during the appeals process, according to the documentary coverage.
Syed Saddiq has since returned his focus to parliamentary and political work, meaning his wedding celebrations will take place alongside a demanding schedule.
Honeymoon plans take a back seat
For now, the couple’s honeymoon appears to be taking a back seat to their professional commitments.
With the Oct. 10 ceremony coming shortly before Malaysia’s Budget 2027 presentation and parliamentary debates, Syed Saddiq is expected to return to his political duties soon after the wedding.
The couple are therefore preparing for marriage while balancing public appearances, wedding events and their respective careers.
The wedding story continues
From their quiet relationship and Mount Kinabalu proposal to a ceremony high above Kuala Lumpur and public celebrations in three Malaysian regions, Syed Saddiq and Bella Astillah’s wedding has developed into a nationwide event.
Their main solemnisation on Oct. 10 will be followed by receptions in Kuala Lumpur, Muar and Kota Kinabalu, with the public invited to join the latter two celebrations.
For fans, the wedding will not simply be a one-day affair. Through Astro’s eight-part documentary, live broadcasts and public receptions, the couple’s journey into married life is set to remain in the spotlight for weeks after they exchange their vows.
