Malaysiaku Gemilang chosen for 50th National Day celebration

Malaysiaku Gemilang 

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysiaku Gemilang has been chosen to be the official song for the country's 50th National Day celebration.  

Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim launched the song at the Craft Complex in Jalan Conlay last night before singer Roy sang the song alongside the National Symphony Orchestra.  

Awarded: Dr Rais and his wife Datin Seri Maznah Rais congratulating Nik Nizam (left) and Hairul Anuar atthe Craft Complex in Jalan Conlay, Kuala Lumpur, last night.

The song, which beat 27 other entries, was composed by Nik Nizam Jaafar of Istana Budaya while Hairul Anuar Harun and Dr Rais wrote the lyrics. 

Nik Nizam has performed in various countries including Germany, England, China, Japan, Vietnam, Laos, Brunei and the Philippines. 

Hairul Anuar, an Akademi Seni Budaya and Warisan Kebangsaan (Aswara) graduate, is known for his talent in writing modern lyrics and has penned songs for leading artistes like Datuk Siti Nurhaliza, Noraniza Idris and Jamal Abdillah. 

Nik Nizam won RM10,000 while Hairul received RM5,000.  

Dr Rais also handed over CDs containing the song to representatives from various radio stations including RedFM and said the song would be broadcast from today. 

During a press conference later, Dr Rais said that at least 30,000 CDs would be distributed across the country toschools, universities, government offices, the police, the armed forces and non-governmental organisations. 

“It is not too long a song and the lyrics are also easy to remember,” said Dr Rais, adding that the Cabinet had approved the song.