Dr Sam moved as Malaysians of all races sing 'Saya Anak Malaysia'
Its singer, Salim Ibrahim, 72, better known as Dr Sam, said he was deeply moved to see Malaysians from diverse backgrounds passionately singing the song whenever it is played.
"Thanks to Allah. It touches me to see not only Malays, but also Chinese and Indians singing this song together," he said emotionally.
He recalled how, in the past, his housing area would resonate with the chant of Saya Anak Malaysia when the local Chinese community paraded on Aug 31, singing the song.
Dr Sam was a guest performer at the launch of National Month and Fly the Jalur Gemilang 2025 for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, officiated by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil at Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG) Kampus Bahasa Melayu today.
He admitted that he became emotional when he heard schoolchildren, youth, and university students singing the song, even if they had never met him.
"Although the song is 39 years old, people still sing it. Even the children sing along… during the performance today, the IPG students joined in, and I felt deeply moved," he said, admitting he nearly shed tears.
Dr Sam said he never imagined that the song, composed by renowned musician Datuk M. Nasir with lyrics by S. Amin Shahab in 1986, would endure as a patriotic emblem for Malaysians.
One of his fondest memories was its first performance at the Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) Auditorium, where the hall resounded with enthusiastic singing on the eve of National Day.
"The entire hall echoed… I will never forget that moment," he said with a smile.
He added that the song's enduring appeal lies in its simple melody and memorable lyrics, which resonate with Malaysians of all ages and races.
"When people hear this song, everyone feels like part of one big family called Malaysia. That is what makes me proud," he said.
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5 hours ago
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Dr Sam moved as Malaysians of all races sing 'Saya Anak Malaysia'
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Dr Sam Touched By Malaysians Of All Races Singing 'Saya Anak Malaysia'
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 (Bernama) -- The patriotic song 'Saya Anak Malaysia' remains evergreen across generations, as Malaysians of all races continue to embrace it as a symbol of love and pride in being citizens of the nation. Its singer, Salim Ibrahim, 72, better known as Dr Sam, said he was touched to see Malaysians of various backgrounds singing the song with passion whenever it was played. 'Grateful to Allah. I am moved to see that not only Malays but also Chinese and Indians sing this song together,' he said emotionally. He recalled how, in the past, his housing area once resonated with the chant of 'Saya Anak Malaysia' when the Chinese community paraded on Aug 31 while singing the song. Earlier, Dr Sam was a guest performer at the Launch of the National Month and Fly the Jalur Gemilang 2025 for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, officiated by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil at Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG) Kampus Bahasa Melayu here, today. According to Dr Sam, he became emotional every time he heard schoolchildren, youth, and even university students sing the song, despite not knowing him personally. 'Although the song is 39 years old, people still sing it until now. Even the children sing it… earlier during the performance, the IPG students sang along, and I felt very emotional,' he said, admitting he almost shed tears. Dr Sam said he never imagined that the song, composed by renowned composer Datuk M. Nasir with lyrics by S. Amin Shahab in 1986, would remain evergreen as a patriotic identity for Malaysians. His sweetest memory was when the song was first performed at the Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) Auditorium, where the entire hall resounded with enthusiastic singing on the eve of National Day.
