Fan club president has no regrets defending Rui En
Her defence of her idol has come under criticism from members of the public, but she has absolutely no regrets.
Miss Peh Xin Yi, 28, president of the fan club for local actress Rui En, told The New Paper on Sunday: "No, I don't regret it at all."
The information surrounding the accident the 35-year-old actress was involved in on Tuesday was "flying everywhere", says Miss Peh.
She says, firmly: "I needed to help people to see the bigger picture, so they could present the facts better."
On Tuesday afternoon, the actress crashed into a parked motorcycle at a Clementi car park. According to the owner of the motorcycle, it seemed that the star tried to drive off.
When stopped, Rui En opened to door to ask: "Do you know who I am?"
Miss Peh, president of the RBKD ("rui bu ke dang", or "the unstoppable Rui" in Mandarin), penned an e-mail on Thursday and sent it to "friends of the media".
She urged reporters to "exercise prudence and empathy with your pen (sic) and keyboards" because "Rui En will not shy away from her responsibilities". Miss Peh also presented a point-by-point explanation of why her idol had done no wrong.
Another reason she felt she had to step in: Tonight's Star Awards, where Rui En will receive the All-Time Favourite Artiste Award, which is given to those who have won the Top 10 Most Popular Female or Male Artistes award 10 times.
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"We've been looking forward to it for so long. It's been a 10-year commitment - almost like graduating from college. She's the youngest star ever to win 10 consecutive times, so I felt the need to step in."
"But now, there's a dark cloud over what was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime moment for us fans," Miss Peh says.
As president of RBKD, Miss Peh helps spread information about Rui En's shows and events online to more than 100 people in the club.
Miss Peh, who did not want to reveal her day job, explains that as fans, they also attend Rui En's promotional events and organise charity activities in her name.
A few months ago, the club distributed welfare packs to more than 300 elderly residents in Ang Mo Kio. Miss Peh says the club spent more than $20,000, which came from their own pockets and sponsors. The event was in honour of Rui En's 35th birthday.
"We have this affinity, and she connects with us unlike any other celebrity," Miss Peh says.
She adds: "Even in the small things, like when we buy her snacks or cards when we visit her on set, we do it for her. I think she appreciates all the things that we do for her."
RBKD is Miss Peh's "family outside of her own family", and the members frequently do activities like hiking and cycling together.
It is this sense of camaraderie that makes the fan club so special to Miss Peh.
She says: "People see her at the top but we have stuck with her through good times and the bad. That's what keeps us bonded together, this journey we have walked to support her."
People see her at the top but we have stuck with her through good times and the bad. That's what keeps us bonded together, this journey we have walked to support her.
- Fan club president, Miss Peh Xin Yi, on actress Rui En
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