Man behind the upbeat national anthem

IN 2003, Datuk Wah Idris was entrusted the task of fine-tuning the melody of the national anthem Negaraku without changing the lyrics. 

An earlier re-vamp had been done in 1992 by RTM, which gave the Negaraku a faster march tempo.  

Wah came up with two versions: an orchestral and choir presentation. One has an “elegant ending” while the other has a “power-packed ending”.  

The latter was the chosen one although many still are unsure of the correct version of the song. 

“Then maybe it is a good idea to play it in the cinemas to evoke the patriotic feeling as in the early days of our nationhood,” Wah proposes. 

“It will also get the public to be aware of the right version of Negaraku,” he points out, as he plays both versions of Negaraku on the radio. 

As for the controversy over the rendition by Hattan at the Malaysia Cup final, Wah feels the singer did not show any disrespect. Hattan probably sized up the atmosphere at the stadium and decided to give his individual feel to the anthem, he says.  

“It was not done in the wrong manner.”