# Akademi Fantasia season 8

The eighth season of Akademi Fantasia premiered on 13 March 2010 and continued until 22 May 2010 on the Astro Ria television channel. The show underwent a number of changes from the seventh season, including the return Adlin Aman Ramlie as judge while Aznil Nawawi joined the judging panel following the departures of Dato' Khadijah Ibrahim and Edry Hashim.
The professional trainers for this season were announced in a press conference for media which took place in Hilton Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on 8 February 2010. In the ceremony, Norman Abdul Halim was revealed to be the Principal for this season, while Sarimah Ibrahim and Jimmy Shanley were selected as the new hosts replacing AC Mizal.
The eight season saw a new change to the format of the show. Instead of eliminating a student at the end of each concert, the elimination process was conducted in a new 30-minute segment called Debaran Akademi Fantasia, which was conducted by Sarimah Ibrahim.
The final concert was broadcast live in high definition technology, an Akademi Fantasia first, which was accessible for Astro B.yond subscribers in Channel 124 through Astro.
On 22 May 2010, Ahmad Shahir Zawawi from Kampar, Perak was announced the winner of the eighth season of Akademi Fantasia, defeating Siti Adira Suhaimi. He made history for being the first student to win the title after being re-entered into the competition through AFMASUK following his elimination in Week 7.
As many as 3.75 million votes were cast the entire season.

## Auditions

Auditions were held in the following cities:
* National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur - 9 & 10 January
* The Zon, Johor Bahru, Johor - 16 & 17 January
* Redbox Gurney, Plaza Gurney, Penang - 16 & 17 January
* Promenade Hotel, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah - 22, 23 & 24 January
* Merdeka Palace Hotel, Kuching, Sarawak - 23 & 24 January
* National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur - 30 & 31 January

### List of songs during auditions

Contestants were required to be between the ages of 18 and 45, and are Malaysian and Singaporean citizens who are not embedded with recording or management contracts.

## Concert summaries
### Tirai Concert

Original Airdate: 13 March 2010
| Student | Song |
| Adira | "Gagap" (Stacy) |
| Ain | "The Climb" (Miley Cyrus) |
| Alif | "Live Like We're Dying" (Kris Allen) |
| Anum | "Pelesit Kota" (Search) |
| Daus | "Bye Bye Bye" (N Sync) |
| Ema | "Tiada Lagi Tangisan" (Misha Omar / Aishah) |
| Farina | "Tiada Lagi" (Mayang Sari) |
| Iwan | "Coba" (Faizal Tahir) |
| Maulana | "Tekad" (Hazami) |
| Nad | "Gantung" (Melly Goeslaw) |
| Shah | "Drama King" (Meet Uncle Hussein) |
| Shahir | "Andalusia" (M. Nasir) |

### Week 1

Original Airdate: 20 March 2010
| Student | Song | Result |
| Adira | "Bertamu Di Kalbu" (Jaclyn Victor) | Safe |
| Ain | "Hey Ladies" (Rossa) | Safe |
| Alif | "Kau Aku" (Aizat) | Bottom 3 |
| Anum | "Aku Tak Percaya Cinta" (Liyana Jasmay) | Safe |
| Daus | "Cari Jodoh" (Wali Band) | Safe |
| Ema | "Yang Terbaik" (Marsha) | Safe |
| Farina | "Paparazzi" (Lady Gaga) | Safe |
| Iwan | "Haven't Met You Yet" (Michael Bublé) | Safe |
| Maulana | "Extravaganza" (Bunkface) | Bottom 3 |
| Nad | "ERT" (Farah Asyikin) | Safe |
| Shah | "Bengang" (Akim) | Eliminated |
| Shahir | "Khatimah Cinta" (6ixth Sense) | Safe |

### Week 2

Original Airdate: 27 March 2010
| Student | Song | Result |
| Adira | "Ku Percaya Ada Cinta" (Datuk Siti Nurhaliza) | Safe |
| Ain | "Happy" (Amy Mastura) | Bottom 3 |
| Alif | "Dance with My Father" (Luther Vandross) | Safe |
| Anum | "Sekadar Di Pinggiran" (Francissca Peter) | Safe |
| Daus | "Menatap Matamu" (Aril AF7) | Safe |
| Ema | "Pakai Buang" (Stacy) | Eliminated |
| Farina | "Ketentuan" (Ramlah Ram) | Safe |
| Iwan | "Mencari Konklusi" (Hujan) | Safe |
| Maulana | "Hasrat Hati" (S. Mariam) | Bottom 3 |
| Nad | "Aku Wanita Biasa" (Krisdayanti) | Safe |
| Shahir | "Jangan Nakal" (Aliff Satar) | Safe |

### Week 3

Original Airdate: 3 April 2010
| Student | Song | Result |
| Adira | "Kini" (Feminin) | Safe |
| Ain | "Cinta Antara Benua" (Arni Nazira) | Safe |
| Alif | "Sesuatu Janji" (Taufik Batisah) | Safe |
| Anum | "Kau Atau Aku" (Elyana) | Eliminated |
| Daus | "Separuh Jiwaku Pergi" (Anang) | Bottom 3 |
| Farina | "Cantik" (Nikki) | Bottom 3 |
| Iwan | "Permaisuriku" (Jay Jay) | Safe |
| Maulana | "So Sick" (Ne-Yo) | Safe |
| Nad | "Bulan Cinta" (Eva) | Safe |
| Shahir | "Derita Cinta" (Jamal Abdillah) | Safe |

### Week 4

Original Airdate: 10 April 2010
| Student | Song | Result |
| Adira | "Biarlah" (Nidji) | Safe |
| Ain | "Kawan" (Ruhil Amani) | Safe |
| Alif | "Hanya Di Radio" (Headwind) | Eliminated |
| Daus | "Mirage" (Pesawat) | Safe |
| Farina | "Teruskanlah" (Agnes Monica) | Bottom 3 |
| Iwan | "Kekasih Gelapku" (Ungu) | Bottom 3 |
| Maulana | "Biarkan" (Vince) | Safe |
| Nad | "Realiti Dewi" (Alyah) | Safe |
| Shahir | "Always Be My Baby" (David Cook) | Safe |

### Week 5

Original Airdate: 17 April 2010
| Student | Song | Result |
| Adira | "Seri Mersing" (Sharifah Aini) | Safe |
| Ain | "Halo" (Beyoncé Knowles) | Bottom 3 |
| Daus | "Benar-Benar" (Adam) | Safe |
| Farina | "Mana Mungkin" (Dayang Nurfaizah) | Saved |
| Iwan | "Oh Juwita" (Nubhan) | Safe |
| Maulana | "Ku Bukan Aku" (Tilu) | Safe |
| Nad | "My Happy Ending" (Avril Lavigne) | Bottom 3 |
| Shahir | "Anggapan Mu" (Ziana Zain) | Safe |

### Week 6

Original Airdate: 24 April 2010
| Student | Song | Result |
| Adira | "My All" (Mariah Carey) | Safe |
| Ain | "Jujur Takkan Melupakanmu" (Ella) | Bottom 3 |
| Daus | "Selamat Malam" (Faizal Tahir) | Safe |
| Farina | "Teruskanlah" (Agnes Monica) | Bottom 3 |
| Iwan | "Aku Cinta Kau Dan Dia" (Dewa) | Safe |
| Maulana | "Bila Rindu" (Ruffedge) | Safe |
| Nad | "Jikalau Aku" (Ezlynn) | Eliminated |
| Shahir | "Kau Yang Satu" (Ramli Sarip) | Safe |

### Week 7

Original Airdate: 1 May 2010
| Student | Song | Result |
| Adira | "Ayat-Ayat Cinta" (Rossa) | Safe |
| Ain | "Seindah Biasa" (Datuk Siti Nurhaliza) | Safe |
| Daus | "New Divide" (Linkin Park) | Safe |
| Farina | "Jika Kau Ubah Fikiran" (Mila) | Bottom 3 |
| Iwan | "Warisan Wanita Terakhir" (Teacher's Pet) | Safe |
| Maulana | "Semalam" (Sean Ghazi) | Bottom 3 |
| Shahir | "Tiara" (Kris) | Eliminated |

### Week 8

Original Airdate: 8 May 2010
| Student | Song | Result |
| Adira | "Kitalah Bintang" (Ella) | Safe |
| Ain | "Suci Dalam Debu" (Iklim) | Bottom 3 |
| Daus | "Puspa" (ST12) | safe |
| Farina | "Selanjur Bercinta" (Aishah) | Eliminated |
| Iwan | "Lihat Cara Dia Memandangku" (Bre) | Bottom 3 |
| Maulana | "Dalam Gerimis" (Visa) | Safe |

### Week 9

Original Airdate: 15 May 2010
| Student | Song | Result |
| Adira | "Mercy" (Duffy) "Dua" (KRU) | Safe |
| Ain | "Luka Dilukai" (Shima) "Fallin' for You" (Colbie Caillat) | Eliminated |
| Daus | "Masa" (Estranged) "Take a Look Around" (Limp Bizkit) | Safe |
| Iwan | "21 Guns" (Green Day) "Berlari" (Tomok) | Bottom 3 |
| Maulana | "Better Man" (Robbie Williams) "Inilah Cinta" (Akim) | Bottom 3 |
| Shahir | "Tak Mungkin Berpaling" (Mawi) "Tamally Maak" (Amr Diab) | Safe |

### Week 10

Original Airdate: 22 May 2010
| Student | Song | Result |
| Adira | "Tiru Macam Saya" (Sheila Majid) "Ku Ada Kamu" (Adira) | Runner-up |
| Daus | "Doktor Pakar Cinta" (Yusry) "Kenapa" (Daus) | Third |
| Iwan | "Relaku Pujuk" (Spider) "V.I.P." (Iwan) | Fifth |
| Maulana | "Susun Silang Kata" (Aizat) "RSVP" (Maulana) | Fourth |
| Shahir | "Biru Mata Hitamku" (Wings) "Kebahagiaan Dalam Perpisahan" (Shahir) | Winner |

## Students

(ages stated are at time of contest)
| Student | Age | Hometown | Rank |
| Muhammed Shahril Mohd Saleh Hussein | 26 | Klang, Selangor | 12th |
| Erma Suhaimi | 21 | Ranau, Sabah | 11th |
| Dayang Nor Anum Arjuna Aharun | 18 | Tawau, Sabah | 10th |
| Muhammad Alif Kadim | 18 | Kuala Lumpur | 9th |
| Nadia Emilia Roselan | 21 | Klang, Selangor | 8th |
| Zafarina Jamhari | 28 | Bintulu, Sarawak | 7th |
| Nadiawati Ainul Basir | 23 | Sandakan, Sabah | 6th |
| Emirza Azwan "Iwan" Zulazrin Chew | 20 | Seremban, Negeri Sembilan | 5th |
| Muhd Firdaus Maulana Mohamed | 22 | Johor Bahru, Johor | 4th |
| Muhd Shahril Firdaus Eli | 22 | Kuching, Sarawak | 3rd |
| Siti Adira Suhaimi | 19 | Ranau, Sabah | Runner-up |
| Ahmad Shahir Zawawi | 21 | Kampar, Perak | Winner |

## Summaries
### Elimination chart

Voting Result in Rank Order :
| Order | Weekly Concerts | Weekly Concerts | Weekly Concerts | Weekly Concerts | Weekly Concerts | Weekly Concerts | Weekly Concerts | Weekly Concerts | Weekly Concerts | Weekly Concerts |
| Order | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 1 | Anum | Iwan | Adira | Adira | Daus | Adira | Adira | Adira | Shahir | Shahir |
| 2 | Ain | Alif | Maulana | Shahir | Maulana | Iwan | Daus | Daus | Adira | Adira |
| 3 | Shahir | Daus | Shahir | Maulana | Shahir | Daus | Iwan | Maulana | Daus | Daus |
| 4 | Iwan | Adira | Alif | Daus | Adira | Shahir | Ain | Ain | Iwan | Maulana |
| 5 | Adira | Shahir | Ain | Ain | Iwan | Maulana | Maulana | Iwan | Maulana | Iwan |
| 6 | Ema | Nad | Nad | Nad | Nad | Ain | Farina | Farina | Ain | |
| 7 | Farina | Farina | Iwan | Iwan | Ain | Farina | Shahir | Shahir | | |
| 8 | Nad | Anum | Farina | Farina | Farina | Nad | | | | |
| 9 | Daus | Maulana | Daus | Alif | | | | | | |
| 10 | Maulana | Ain | Anum | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Alif | Ema | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Shah | | | | | | | | | |
    The student won the competition
    The student was the runner-up
    The student was the second runner-up
    The students were finalists
    The student was the original eliminee but was saved
    The student was re-entered into the competition through AFMASUK
    The student was eliminated
* In week 5, there was no elimination. The accumulated votes were forwarded to the following week.
* In week 8, Shahir was re-entered into the competition after scoring the highest votes through AFMASUK.

## Cast members
### Hosts

* Jimmy Shanley - Host of concert of Akademi Fantasia and Diari Akademi Fantasia
* Sarimah Ibrahim - Host of concert of Akademi Fantasia and Debaran Akademi Fantasia

### Professional trainers

* Norman Abdul Halim - Principal
* Adnan Abu Hassan - Vocal Technical
* Siti Hajar Ismail - Vocal Presentation
* Linda Jasmine - Choreographer
* Fatimah Abu Bakar - English Language Consultant & Counsellor
* Que Haidar - Drama & Acting

### Judges

* Adlin Aman Ramlie
* Aznil Nawawi

## Season statistics

* Total number of students: 12
* Oldest student: Zafarina Jamhari, 28 years old
* Youngest students: Dayang Nor Anum Arjuna Aharun & Muhammad Alif Kadim, both 18 years old
* Tallest student: Muhd Firdaus Maulana Mohamed, 5'6.7" (173 cm)
* Shortest student: Siti Adira Suhaimi, 4'9" (152 cm)
* Heaviest student: Muhammed Shahril Mohd Saleh Hussein, 176 lbs (80 kg)
* Lightest student: Nadia Emilia Roselan, 94 lb (43 kg)
* Student with the most collective highest votes: Siti Adira Suhaimi, 5 times
* Student with the most consecutive highest votes: Siti Adira Suhaimi, 3 times
* Top 3's vote mean (excluding finale): Ahmad Shahir Zawawi – 3.5, Siti Adira Suhaimi - 2.22, Muhd Shahril Firdaus Eli - 4.0,
* Top 3's vote median (excluding finale): Ahmad Shahir Zawawi – 3, Siti Adira Suhaimi - 1, Muhd Shahril Firdaus Eli - 3
* Student with the most collective bottom two appearances: Zafarina Jamhari, 5 times
* Student with the most consecutive bottom two appearances: Zafarina Jamhari, 5 times
* Student with no bottom two appearances: Siti Adira Suhaimi