Singer Datuk Elaine Kang, who is best known for the patriotic anthem Sejahtera Malaysia, recalls singing at weddings when she was only 10 years old, earning just RM8 for each performance.
The modest earnings are among the memories that remain vivid for the Penang-born singer as she reflects on a career spanning more than four decades in the entertainment industry.
Speaking as a guest on Bernama Radio’s ShowBuzz programme recently, Kang said she grew up in poverty and was forced to leave school before completing Form Two.
“I was born into a very poor family. I never finished school and had to stop after Form Two. I even had to sew my own school uniform because my parents couldn’t afford to buy one. But life had to go on,” the 61-year-old said.
Kang’s passion for singing began at an early age, when she regularly entered talent competitions across Penang.
Although she never won the first prize, she did not feel discouraged. Instead, she continued to sing whenever she received invitations to perform at weddings.
“When I was 10 or 11, I joined singing competitions and I usually received the consolation prize. Whenever I was invited to perform at a wedding, I would sing two songs and earn RM8, which I put into my piggy bank,” she recalled.
Her fortunes changed after she moved to Kuala Lumpur with her mother and auditioned for a resident singer position at the Federal Hotel.
“I didn’t have any nice clothes to wear for the audition, so I borrowed one of my sister’s dresses. After the audition, they offered me the job immediately.
“My salary was RM800 and I gave almost all of it to my mother. I only kept RM250 and saved it in the bank,” she said.
Kang’s talent soon caught the attention of a record label, leading to the release of albums in Malay, Mandarin and English, cementing her place in Malaysia’s music industry.
The singer also said that she was never selective about work and always embraced every opportunity that came her way.
“(Those days) I would perform a show at 8.45pm, another at 10.30pm and a third at 12.30am. By the time I got home, I was exhausted, but opportunities don’t come around every day. You have to work hard,” she said.
That same work ethic eventually inspired her to establish her own production company and venture into business as an additional source of income.
She also advised younger singers not to rely solely on fame, urging them instead to prepare for life beyond the spotlight.
“You never know when your popularity might wane, so work hard. You need to know what’s happening in the world and keep up with the news.
“Singing alone isn’t enough. You need a plan and you have to prepare for the future.
“When opportunities come, you’ll know how to make the most of them. I’m a singer, but I also run other businesses.
“The most important thing is to have a backup plan, so you don’t have to worry about what comes next,” she said. – Bernama
