Local artistes sing the Ayuh Kita Merdeka theme song live during a recent press conference for the Kita Merdeka telemovie.
KUALA LUMPUR: Aeon Retail Malaysia’s tribute of respect and appreciation to the nation’s frontliners, the Kita Merdeka telemovie, will be aired on the small screen tonight on TV3 at 10pm and come Sept 5, on Astro Prima at 6pm.
Released in conjunction with National Day and Malaysia Day, the creative corporate social responsibility endeavour celebrates the spirit of merdeka, in hopes of breaking free from the shackles of the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the Azlee Khairi, the telemovie’s lead actor, Kita Mereka reflects the reality faced by the nation’s citizens since March.
“[Filming] the telemovie taught me that merdeka is not only about waving a flag, ” he said.
He expressed his hope that the telemovie becomes a medium to shed light on the sacrifices of all of Malaysia’s frontliners, including its unsung heroes - particularly because frontliners are not just limited to those in the field of medical and law enforcement.
It also covers those working in retail, security and other sectors, who have played a key role to serve a cause bigger than themselves, he stressed.
Azlee hopes the telemovie sheds light on the sacrifices of all Malaysian frontliners.
He opined, “Kita Merdeka is meant to show appreciation to them, as many people may not have recognised the significance of their contributions, despite them being as affected as we were by the pandemic.”
Actress Elisya Sandha added that being a part of the telemovie was an inspirational and educational experience, as she learnt a lot in terms of how Aeon’s employees tackled the issues arising from the pandemic.
“It was quite challenging as we’ve never faced a situation like this before. And because I’m not a frontliner, I relied on the experience of Aeon’s staff - who have been very helpful - to help share what they’ve experienced through my character, ” she said.
Actor Fadlan Hazmi also echoed Elisya’s views, noting that the telemovie enabled close interaction with Aeon’s staff to bring his character to life.
Many may not be aware of the sacrifices made by frontliners in the retail industry, said Fadlan.
He shared, “I spoke with them from morning to night throughout the shoot and heard their perspective, how they handled the movement control order (MCO), how they faced customers who were panic buying right at the start - it made me able to better relate to their experiences and portray the character I’m playing.
“This telemovie demonstrates the challenges they’ve faced, so that the public can become more aware and appreciative of their sacrifices.”
The three actors and actresses were in good company with its talented cast, including other familiar names such as Amy Mastura, Keith Foo, Riezman Khuzaimi, Rahim Omar, Sheila Mambo, Izzendra and Wilma Muhammad.
Kita Merdeka also displayed the successful initiatives undertaken by Aeon thus far, namely projects such as Personal Shopper, Projek Roti Putih, Projek Berkat Ramadan and Projek Aeon Rider amongst others.
Applauding Aeon's efforts, Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi sent a letter of support warmly welcoming its initiative in using the telemovie medium to reveal the commitment and sacrifices of frontliners.
Accompanying the telemovie is its moving Ayuh Kita Merdeka theme song, which has been recorded in two different versions and made available via various streaming platforms such as Spotify, Joox and Apple Music on Aug 28. It can also be viewed on Aeon’s official Youtube channel.
Awi and Sarah treat audiences to the ballad version of Ayuh Kita Merdeka.
Produced by musician Awi Rafael’s label Newsantara, the official version was sung by Aiman Tino, MimiFly, Mya Herry, Qhall, H.P.G and Spectre F, while the ballad version was sung by Awi in a duet with Sarah Fazny.
According to Awi, the main message he wanted to convey was to uplift the spirit and soul of the public, especially since the world was beset by the pandemic.
Despite all its ills, he said that the pandemic has taught many lessons to artists to work in more creative ways.
“The song is also about achieving merdeka in our souls, about how everyone can chase their dreams. [The intention is that] we not only achieve merdeka as a country, but also free our souls and break free of Covid-19, ” he said.
For singer Aiman, the song and its music video was a patriotic effort and a big opportunity for him as a Malaysian.
He added, “This was the first time I’ve been involved in a song that involves patriotism and freedom. As singers, we have our own followers and we have a responsibility to deliver a positive message relating to Covid-19 and the nation’s independence to Malaysia’s citizens.”
According to Aeon Retail Malaysia chief human resource officer and corporate communications director Dr Kasuma Satria, the telemovie and music video were realised in a short period due to the cooperation of all parties.
“We want to capture this moment in history, to recognise the efforts of all our frontliners, including Aeon staff - our Aeon Warriors - who worked tirelessly throughout the MCO, despite their own fears and worries of catching the virus, to ensure that food supplies and daily necessities were always available for the country’s citizens.
In celebration, Aeon has also launched its 828 digital sales promotion campaign through https://myaeon.com.my. The 63-hour campaign, which started on Aug 28, will end on Aug 31 at 1am.
