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New Paper
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Paper
From outsider to bandmate: Malay woman finds harmony in Chinese-majority percussion group
When Ms Nazirah Majid, 58, walked into her first Kitchen Beats session in June, she almost turned back. As the only Malay participant in the Chinese-majority percussion group, the mother of three admitted she felt out of place and even considered quitting. But instead of walking away, she chose to embrace the experience - making new friends and becoming a proud performer for this year's SG60 celebrations. Kitchen Beats is a community arts initiative under the Sembawang Central Community Arts and Culture Club (CACC), where everyday kitchen items such as woks, pots and ladles are turned into musical instruments. The group comprises seniors aged 53 to 80 from across Singapore, and aims to promote active ageing and intergenerational bonding through music. Ms Nazirah, who lives in Block 303 near the training venue at Zone 2 Residents' Committee (RC), told Berita Harian that the first few sessions were lonely. Everyone else left in small groups while she walked home alone. "When I came for the first training, all the participants were Chinese and many were much older," she said. "I felt like, 'Eh, this is not my place,'" she added. She tried getting her friends to join, but few were keen. Still, she pressed on. "I want my life to be colourful," she said. "It's not just about worship and religion. We also need to exercise, create, and do things that make us happy." The Kitchen Beats crew rehearsing for their August 3 performance. SCREENGRAB: SBWCENTRALCC/INSTAGRAM What helped her feel included was her fluency in Mandarin, which she had learnt as her mother tongue in school. The trainers conducted the sessions entirely in Mandarin, and while the instructor initially translated instructions into English for her, she surprised everyone by responding confidently in Mandarin. "Everyone applauded when I answered in Mandarin," she recalled. "I felt appreciated." The idea for Kitchen Beats came about spontaneously, when CACC chairwoman Joanne Tay was beating eggs and noticed a rhythm in the sounds. Officially formed in June, the group now has 22 members from six Residents' Association centres. Training is held every Sunday morning for 90 minutes, and some members even arrange extra practice on Mondays. Despite most participants having no musical background, they've embraced the challenge. On Aug 3, they made their debut at the National Day celebrations near Sun Plaza as part of the Sembawang Arts Festival, performing three songs in Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. "This year is SG60, and I am proud to be a Singaporean," Ms Nazirah said. "When the government organises activities for all ages, why not take part?" She hopes her involvement will inspire others in the Malay community to step out of their comfort zones. Though she once dreamed of performing at the National Day Parade, she never found the right group - until now. "I think it doesn't matter your race, religion, age… if you're interested, give it a try," she said. "We are all Singaporeans."
New Straits Times
09-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Son asked for forgiveness days before river tragedy, says mother
JITRA: Days before the accident that claimed the lives of Mohamad Azim Izat Ishak, his wife, and their four children, the 32-year-old father visited his mother. It would turn out to be an emotional farewell. Azim, a security guard, had visited Nazirah Ismail, 67, at a religious study centre in Kampung Palas, Kodiang, on June 27. During the visit, he hugged her tightly and asked her for forgiveness. "He told me to forgive him for every drop of milk I fed him." "He hugged me for a long time and apologised. He said he couldn't make my life easier, that he had only caused me trouble "At the time, I thought it was strange. He had never said anything like that before." The retired teacher said today that Azim had stepped out of his car a second time to hug her once more before leaving. "I didn't think anything of it. But now, looking back, the way he held me, it was like he didn't want to let go," she said at her home in Taman Seri Aman in Jitra. Nazirah described Azim as a devoted son, brother and loving father. "He was close to his siblings. The night before the incident, he even fed his youngest sister, Shuhada." What struck her even more was a strange dream recounted by her granddaughter, Putri Qisya Nur Izzat, 12 — Azim's only remaining child. "She woke up crying, and told me her father appeared in her dream and said, 'Kakak, stay strong. From now on, we will only be watching you from far away'. "I told her (Qisya) to be patient, to be strong. I'm hurting too. I carried her father in my womb for nine months." Nazirah said her grandson, Putra Rayyan, 8, had become unusually affectionate with her in the days leading up to the incident. "He was very clingy, always wanted to be close to me. It's like he sensed something," she said. The family was found inside their Proton Iswara after it was pulled out from Sungai Korok near Jitra on Monday. The victims were Azim, his wife Nurul Hidayah Khadijah Razman Efendi, 31, and their children: Putra Rayyan; Hawa Adriana, 8; Annayla Humaira, 7; and 6-month-old Tuah Haydar.
