Remembering the legacy of Merdeka Choir conductor Tony Fonseka

Free Malaysia Today

17 hours ago

Tony Fonseka formed the Merdeka Choir with broadcasting and music icon Ahmad Merican and served as its conductor. (Fonseka family pic)
PETALING JAYA : For many, 'Negaraku' evokes memories of school assemblies and the singing of the national anthem. But for Alfred Fonseka, it carries a deeper, more personal significance.
That's because his late father, Tony, formed the Merdeka Choir with renowned broadcasting and music icon Ahmad Merican. Tony also served as the choir's conductor and led the group to perform 'Negaraku' during the country's independence celebrations in 1957.
Tony, whose full name was Andrew Anthony Fonseka, passed away from a heart attack in 1965, less than a decade after the Merdeka Choir's debut. He was 59.
This Father's Day, Alfred – the youngest of Tony's 10 children – reflects on cherished memories of his dad and the legacy he left behind.
'My mum would tag along for choir rehearsals and I'd follow them. I used to enjoy watching my father conducting the choir – everybody listened to him,' Alfred told FMT Lifestyle.
'I remember thinking, 'He must be someone important, right?' And he taught most of them to read music.'
Tony and his wife, Marian. (Alfred Fonseka pic)
Alfred recalled how his parents, seated under the glow of an oil lamp in their wooden house in Kampung Kerinchi, Kuala Lumpur, would carefully count the money the choir had earned from performances, making sure it was divided equally among all the members.
His father, he added, always ensured everyone got a rounded amount – even topping up from his own pocket when necessary.
'For example, if everyone was supposed to get RM1.80, he'd add 20 sen so they'd each get RM2,' explained Alfred, 76.
He described his father as a 'very strict' man – although, as the youngest child, Alfred enjoyed more freedom than his older siblings!
Despite his father's stern demeanour, Alfred understood that Tony's discipline came from a place of love. 'I knew he worried about me when I wasn't home on time,' he said.
Tony with two of his sons, Stephen (left) and Victor. (Alfred Fonseka pic)
Alfred still remembers accompanying his father to music classes he'd taught, riding behind Tony on his Lambretta scooter.
Another cherished memory is of Tony teaching him the guitar chords for 'All My Loving' by The Beatles, when Alfred was preparing for a talentime competition in secondary school.
Tony also spent countless hours at the piano, composing music. Among his well-known works is the patriotic song 'Benderaku'. Click here to have a listen – you might find it surprisingly familiar!
Tony (second row, centre) was also a bandmaster with the Malaya Volunteer Corps. (Alfred Fonseka pic)
Alfred also recalled a story his mother once told him. 'My father's life was literally saved by music. During the Japanese occupation, he was charged with being a British collaborator. The sword was already at his neck, and he was about to be beheaded.'
At the last moment, a Japanese officer intervened: he had recognised Tony from a function during which Tony had played a tune the officer hummed.
That day, Tony's life was spared.
A tribute to Tony in Radio Weekly following his death in 1965. (Fonseka family pic)
Alfred had only been in Form Five when his father passed away. 'His passing left a void – something had been taken from us, just like that. When I went to bed, he wasn't there. When I woke up in the morning, he wasn't there. When I came back from school, he wasn't there.'
After his passing, the publication Radio Weekly wrote that 'children all over Malaysia have lost a 'father' in the passing away of the grand old man of children's songs'.
Tony had joined Radio Malaysia in 1963, where he primarily produced 'children's musical programmes and children's choirs', in addition to composing patriotic songs.
Alfred shared that Tony had deeply loved his country. He recalled how his brother, Robert, and their father would go into the Radio Malaysia studio to record the national anthem, as Tony had wanted Malaysians to sing it correctly.
While he is proud of Tony's legacy, Alfred feels sad that his father hasn't been properly recognised. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)
After his father passed away, the Merdeka Choir gradually faded. Reflecting on his father's legacy, Alfred expressed both pride and sadness as he feels Tony hasn't been properly recognised.
Asked what he wants the younger generation to know about his dad, he said: 'Occasionally, young people would ask me, 'Are you related to the music guy?' I'd reply, 'Which music guy?'
'And when they'd say, 'The one from the Merdeka Choir', I'd say, 'Yeah, that's my father.' He was the man who taught the country to sing the national anthem.'
Tony and Ahmad's journey to form the Merdeka Choir was captured in the 2019 short film 'Getaran Pertama', which you can view here.