Into the LAST LAP
An intense race is on to cover as much ground and convince as many voters as possible before Malaysians go to the polls. Mud-slinging and jibes have made way for a renewed emphasis on plans and pledges, while some hopefuls from Seputeh in Kuala Lumpur to
PETALING JAYA: “So I say, thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing. Thanks for all the joy they’re bringing.”
It’s not just Swedish song sensation Abba wondering what life would be without a song or a dance.
Some election candidates are seeking to woo their voters with a song or two.
Barisan Nasional candidate for Seputeh, Chan Quin Er, showed off her singing chops by releasing a cover of This is Me, a tune from the movie The Greatest Showman.
She said she chose the song because it “speaks to me and to those who have been bruised”.
“I won’t run away despite the allegations thrown at me. I will not let rumours or #FakeNews nor the sharpest words cut me down,” she wrote on Facebook on Saturday.
Barisan candidate for Rasah, Ng Kian Nam, took it one step further by organising a democracy-themed concert on Saturday.
“It’s not just for entertainment purposes. We should treat it as a different form of ceramah.
“I would also modify the songs to convey the party’s manifesto, our philosophy, our main principles,” he said.
Ng said he would be singing a classical Tamil song with an Indian artiste in an upcoming concert organised by an NGO to promote Indian culture.
As for another election candidate, he had a rap song dedicated to him by dikir barat performer Poyie Gasi, whose real name is Mohamad Zainuri Mohd Zain.
“The knowledge he has, he has intelligent thinking, in coming up with ideas, the future is bright,” according to the lyrics in Bahasa Malaysia about Kota Baru Barisan candidate Fikhran Hamshi Mohamad Fatmi.
Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, the Barisan candidate for Stampin, also released a music video titled We are Strong, We are One in line with his campaign themed “Stronger Sarawak”.
Though the SUPP president was not the one singing, many were attracted to the line-up of singers in the video.
As for Datuk Jason Teoh, the Barisan candidate for Iskandar Puteri, he launched his own song You are My Only One on Saturday for his constituents.
Addressing the crowd at an event, he told them that he had a surprise for them. Teoh then invited a man to the stage and introduced him as Ah Di Zai, a Malaysian singer and songwriter known for his Chinese song Xiao Wei.
“We became good friends. He knows the contributions I have made to the people here. He was inspired about it and wrote this song for me which tells the story of my services to the rakyat,” he said.