One, two, three: Simeon (left) and Fu teamed up to create the song which has a structure tailored to suit early learners.
KOTA KINABALU: It all began with a casual conversation, which led to a groundbreaking learning tool that could transform how young Malaysian children learn to count.
Motivated by the challenges faced by preschoolers and children with numeracy difficulties, Dr Fu Sai Hoe, a specialist in mathematics intervention, sought a creative solution.
He teamed up with long-time friend and music education lecturer Dr Jinky Jane Simeon to develop Kira-Kira Sumandak, a cheerful, culturally rooted counting song in Bahasa Malaysia.
(Sumandak means “girl” in Kadazandusun.)
“I noticed that many children, especially those with learning difficulties like dyscalculia, struggle to grasp basic number sequences in Bahasa Malaysia.
“Unlike English, where numbers are mostly single-syllable like ‘one’, ‘two’, ‘three’, Bahasa Malaysia uses multi-syllabic forms like sa-tu, du-a, ti-ga, which increases the cognitive load,” said Fu, a remedial officer at the Sandakan District Education Office, when contacted.
Drawing on years of research and classroom experience, Fu developed an approach that combines rhythm, movement and cultural elements to reduce mental strain and aid memory.
He turned to Simeon, a senior lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), to help bring that concept to life through music.
What emerged is a vibrant, multisensory teaching method where children sing, move, clap and mimic musical instruments, transforming counting into a joyful, lasting experience.
The melody, inspired by Sabahan folk tunes, playfully weaves in the sompoton, a traditional Kadazandusun bamboo mouth organ.
Simeon, who composed and arranged the song, said its structure was tailored to suit early learners.
“The melody is simple, the rhythms repetitive and the structure predictable, all key elements that support memory and focus.
“We even added a ‘toot-toot’ motif to mimic the sound of the sompoton, along with hand gestures for interactivity. Children love it.
“When kids see and hear their own culture in music and stories, they connect more deeply with the learning process,” she shared.
The song quickly gained traction online. Within 24 hours of being posted on TikTok under Simeon’s handle @JJane, it attracted 14,700 views and over 2,100 likes.
Now in its pilot phase, Kira-Kira Sumandak is already drawing interest from educators, particularly in early childhood and remedial education settings.
“We are currently in the experimental stage, using the Suno AI music generation platform to test various musical arrangements based on our lyrics and learning objectives,” said Simeon.
Looking ahead, Fu and Simeon plan to register the song for copyright and develop supporting materials such as flashcards and worksheets.
“Our ultimate aim is to create a uniquely Malaysian-Malay children’s counting song that not only supports early numeracy but also celebrates cultural identity and inclusivity, especially for children with learning difficulties,” said Simeon.
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