Erni’s mission to share

ERNI Dekritawati Yuliana Buhari is on a mission to share what she has learned from her entrepreneur mother Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya.

“My mother once advised me to share my knowledge,” said the eldest daughter of the 47-year-old cosmetics tycoon who disappeared under mysterious circumstances on Aug 30.

Sosilawati's Daughter Joins Puteri Umno

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- The eldest daughter of murdered cosmetics queen Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya officially joined Puteri Umno Wednesday.

Erni Dekritawati Bukhari, 25, affectionately called Rita, has been appointed a member of the movement's entrepreneur development and economy strengthening bureau.

Her membership form was handed over to Puteri chief Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin at the 2010 Puteri Umno General Assembly held at the Putra World Trade Centre here.

Speaking to reporters after handing over the form, Rita said friends had encouraged her to join the movement to continue her late mother's legacy.

"I feel that I can help women entrepreneurs to move forward and practise the knowledge my mother shared with others.

"This is a way for me to appreciate my mother's work in helping single mothers and disabled women, which is much easier as she had already set a platform for me," she said. Rita then attended a Puteri Umno debate session for 10 minutes at the Dewan Tun Dr Ismail.

Sosilawati, 47, her chauffeuar Kamaruddin Shamsuddin, 44, CIMB bank officer Noorhisham Mohammad, 38, and personal lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abd Karim, 32, were reported missing since Aug 30 after they were said to have gone to Banting to conclude a land deal.

On Sept 12, police confirmed the four were beaten to death before their bodies were burnt and the ashes thrown into a river near Ladang Gadong, Banting.

-- BERNAMA

Daughter Finds Strength To Helm Sosilawati's Cosmetics Empire

Rita, 25, in an interview with BERNAMA.
Pic: Mohd Huzaini Daud

By Norshazlina Norazman

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- Erni Dekritawati Yuliana Buhari, 25, nudged into the limelight by the death of her mother cosmetics queen Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya, seems to have a high emotional tolerance level.

The eldest of six siblings was hardly seen shedding tears in public in the wake of news that her millionaire mother had been murdered, but external appearance can belie inner feelings.

"Yes, I may seem to be calm. Deep inside, I am very sad, but I do not want to be visibly in tears because I cannot bear to see my siblings crying.

"Let our sadness be confined to the family. We do not want to be accused of seeking sympathy. We have to carry on with our lives, although our mother is no more," said Rita, as she is fondly called, at the head office in Kampung Baru of Nouvelle Beauty Centre Sdn Bhd, the company running the cosmetics empire established by her mother.

Her siblings are Erwan Suwari Ridzuan, 24, Md Erwan Nasri, 23, Erni Erinawati Sofea, 21, Erni Reenilawati, 20, and Siti Nur Fatimah, 13. All the children were born from Sosilawati's marriage to Bukhari Muhammad, her first husband.

Sosilawati, 47, went missing on Aug 30 after a trip to Banting over a land deal. Also missing were her driver Kamaruddin Shamsudin, 44, CIMB Bank officer Noorhisham Mohammad, 38, and lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32, who had gone with her.

Police found out that they had been murdered, their bodies burnt and the ashes thrown into a river in the vicinity of Tanjung Sepat near Banting, Selangor.

Last Wednesday, lawyer N. Patmanabhan, 41, and farm workers T. Thilaiyalagan, 19, R. Matan, 20, and R. Khatavarayan, 30, were charged in the Teluk Datok Magistrate's Court in Banting with the murder of the four people.

Yesterday, K. Sarawanan, 19, and U. Suresh, 26, pleaded guilty to four counts of disposing of evidence in relation to the four murders and were sentenced to the maximum seven years jail on each count, the sentences to run concurrently.

Rita, who has a Masters' degree in International Business from the Universiti of Nottingham, has taken over her mother's business which, she said, was running smoothly.

She admits that she has much to learn about the business and has to have total focus.

"This is my mother's legacy. I do not want to disappoint her. It is my turn to carry on the business and I pray that it will remain successful," she said.

-- BERNAMA

Sosilawati’s daughter denies dating rumours

ERNI Dekritawati Yuliana Buhari, 25, daughter of Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya, denied rumours that she was dating Bernama TV presenter Zulkifli Bujang.

Harian Metro reported that Rita had often been seen with Zulkifli, 32, at the Nouvelles Visages (NV) office in Kampung Baru and at her residence in Taman Harmonis, Gombak.

She explained that she had known Zulkifli for over 10 years because he had worked with her mother as a public relations officer.

“I’ve known him since my school days. I’m usually close to the people who worked with my mother,” she said.

Rita stressed that both of them are merely friends but kept in touch with each other often.

Sosilawati’s eldest daughter said Zulkifli was close to her entire family and added that she did not want the gossip to affect their relationship.

“I am thankful to Zul as he has helped me a lot,” said Rita, who has taken over her mother’s business empire.

When asked, Zulkifli stressed that it was not an appropriate time to discuss the matter as Rita and her family were still mourning the loss of their mother.

Rita Wants To Continue Mother's Legacy

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- Erni Dekritawati Bukhari, 25, wants to continue the legacy of her mother Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya for the future of her siblings.

Rita as she is fondly known said some people may consider her as young to handle the task but said she had a good teacher in her mother.

"I am prepared for the challenge and keen for some healthy competition," said the eldest sibling who considered Sosilawati and her father Buhari Mohamad as mentor.

Accompanied by close friend Bernama Tv reporter Zulkifli Bujang, Rita said the family was learning to cope with her mother's tragic death and had to be strong for the other five siblings.

"We have accepted reality but are still sad with her death. I will continue from where my mother left off," she said in the Radio 24 programme "Kerusi Panas" helmed by Azlan Idris tonight.

Rita expressed dismay with media reports that exposed assets belonging to the company owned by her late mother.

"They contained the wrong facts. I told the media that all information should first be referred to the police."

She did not want to dwell on her relationship with Zulkifli until all matters relating to her mother's death were resolved.

"I plea with the media not to expose private matters as it can create problems in future. Please respect my privacy."

Rita thanked Malaysians who supported her since news on the murder of her mother and three others spread.

Sosilawati,47, her driver Kamarudin Shamsuddin,44, CIMB bank officer Noorhisham Mohammad,38 and lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim,32, were reported missing on Aug 30 after going to Banting to discuss a land deal.

They were bludgeoned to death, burnt and their ashes strewn in a river in Ladang Gadong, Tanjung Sepat near Banting.

-- BERNAMA

Sosilawati's Daughter To Speak To Bernama Radio24 On Monday Evening

UALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- Erni Dekritawati Yuliana Bukhari, the eldest daughter of cosmetics tycoon, the late Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya, will be interviewed on the "Kerusi Panas" programme of Bernama Radio24 (93.9FM) from 6.30pm Monday.

A spokesman of the radio station said she was expected to speak on her future plans as well as that of the cosmetics company founded by her mother as a result of the latter's untimely demise.

-- BERNAMA

Eldest daughter Rita to inherit estate

GOMBAK: The eldest daughter of murdered Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya is the most likely candidate to inherit the estate of the cosmetics millionaire.

It was understood that Erni Irdawati Dekritawati Yuliana Bukhari (pic), better known as Rita, 25, had said she would ensure her five other siblings were taken care of.

Dozens of friends and family members of Sosilawati were seen visiting her residence in Gombak yesterday, but many remained tight-lipped about the grieving family.

One of them was heard to say that it was important for her loved ones to lend support to each other during this time of mourning.

One of Sosilawati’s business advisers Datuk Suhaimi Ibrahim described the situation inside the mansion at Taman Harmoni here as “really sombre” – as family and friends tried to come to terms with her death in such a gruesome manner.

“It is the work of the devil, an inhumane act,” he added.

He said Sosilawati had wanted to have her company listed on Bursa Malaysia and needed to sell a plot of land in Bukit Jambul to facilitate her financial move.

Suhaimi, the political secretary to Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, said the minister would pay her last respects to Sosilawati here at 11am today.

“When Sosilawati successfully built her business throughout South-East Asia, she gained the admiration of Shahrizat.

“They soon became close friends,” he said.