20th anniversary of Sudirman’s passing
Two decades have elapsed since the untimely demise of legendary Malaysian entertainer Sudirman Haji Arshad, but his legacy lives on.
HE learned from the best to become the best, an achievement that isn’t surprising seeing as the late singer, actor, cartoonist, lawyer and entrepreneur Sudirman Haji Arshad watched and studied the likes of Sammy Davis Jr, Joel Grey and the Nicholas Brothers – resources that were part of his extensive video collection.
This Wednesday, Feb 22, marks 20 years since the singer’s demise at age 37, and it’s clear that the boy from Temerloh, Pahang, is still very much in the hearts and minds of his adoring public, what with TV channel History’s fitting tribute to him last year in the biography Sudirman Arshad, among others. And an upcoming musical, Hoore! Hoore! is expected to ramp up the interest in the diminutive dynamite, who gave us unforgettable tunes like Milik Siapakah Gadis Ini, Merisik Khabar, Balik Kampung, Basikal Tua and One Thousand Million Smiles. Joanne Ng, one of the dancers from his dance troupe back in the day, which he affectionately referred to as his “dancing girls”, thinks that in this time of reflection, what she will remember most are the rehearsal sessions with the singer in the dance studio. “That’s where he was most relaxed with us and he loved to joke. He loved to challenge us to do things differently and I appreciate that we were regarded as more than just back-up dancers to him,” shared Ng. His troupe of dancers included the likes of Samantha Schubert and Linda Jasmine Hashim.
Sudirman was also a source of inspiration, and that’s something the dancer holds close to her heart: “He worked hard, was constantly testing new grounds and singlehandedly raised the bar for the Malaysian entertainment industry. Yet, throughout his success, he always remained humble and endearingly vulnerable.”
Whether he was packing out Jalan Chow Kit in Kuala Lumpur for his landmark concert in 1986 or a village somewhere in the boondocks of Pahang, the winner of the Best Performer accolade at 1989’s Salem Asian Music Awards (which also saw the likes of Leslie Cheung and Anita Sarawak contesting) at the Royal Albert Hall, London, always had his humility intact.
According to former manager, Daniel Dharanee Kannan, he was the model superstar: “He would sign every autograph, never refuse anyone who wanted to take a picture with him, always have a warm welcoming smile and was always humble.”
In his lifetime, Sudirman, the youngest of seven children, released close to 20 albums and played the leading role in the movie by director Patrick Yeoh, Kami, which was screened in cinemas in 1982. Though the film was a box office failure, it was hailed by critics as being unique for its time.
By the late 1980s, the Universiti Malaya law graduate’s name spread far and wide across Asia, and back at home, he was viewed as the people’s hero. “Over and above all his local and international successes, Sudir never forgot that he was at heart a budak kampung and took care to ensure that his repertoire would cater to every segment of his audience. He sang from his heart and his sincerity was tangible. As a result, he touched his audiences every time he performed. The fact that we are still honouring him 20 years on is testimony to his greatness and that Malaysia still feels so much love for this dynamic entertainer,” Ng added.
He may be gone, but two decades on, Sudirman’s name still resonates with Malaysians from all walks of life, regardless of colour or creed, making him the consummate Malaysian entertainer.