Compiled by RAHIMY RAHIM and C. ARUNO
YEARS of building a career in the Mandarin music scene have culminated in singer-songwriter Firdhaus Farmizi achieving one of his biggest milestones – collaborating with national songstress Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza, Mingguan Malaysia reported.
The collaboration on their latest single, Be Like Water, caps a journey that began more than a decade ago when Firdhaus started composing songs in Mandarin at the age of 20.
Firdhaus, now 27, who grew up speaking Mandarin after attending a Chinese vernacular school and making Chinese friends, said that the language is a natural part of his life.
What began as an effort to write songs that his schoolmates could understand gradually evolved into a career, with his music gaining popularity among Mandarin-speaking listeners.
His success has also earned him invitations to perform in China, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong, with many people even assuming he is based in China.
However, his latest achievement with Siti Nurhaliza, affectionately known as “TokTi”, was almost two years in the making.
“This year, I finally had the opportunity to perform Be Like Water with Tok Ti. I am very grateful because the journey took a long time.”
Firdhaus said he did not have any particular singer in mind when he composed the song.
“Once it was completed, I sent the demo to the record label.
“Later, I went to TokTi’s house and played the demo for her and her husband, Datuk Seri Khalid Mohamad Jiwa,” he said.
> What began as a simple favour sanding wood for a blacksmith turned into a lifelong passion for retired civil servant Ahmad Abdullah, 71, Kosmo! reported.
Ahmad has since amassed a collection of more than 100 traditional and modern blades from around the world.
He said his interest in wood carving began after helping his late friend, a blacksmith who specialised in making knives, machetes, swords and keris.
At first, Ahmad only assisted by sanding and smoothing the wood used to make the weapons’ handles and sheaths, but he gradually developed an appreciation for the craftsmanship involved.
“As time went by, I became fascinated by the intricate craftsmanship.”
Ahmad now owns traditional and modern blades from around the world.
He said each piece was carefully selected through extensive reading, online research and discussions with fellow collectors.
“I don’t focus on weapons from any particular country. I’m especially interested in European steel because it is renowned for its quality.”
He added that locally made weapons are equally impressive, as they preserve their traditional identity while allowing room for innovation without compromising heritage value.
Among his prized possessions is a custom-made knife crafted by his late friend, featuring a pierced sheath and a handle carved with the motif of a bird eating a nut.
The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.
