'KARYA AGUNG: TRIBUTE TO PAK NGAH' CONCERT CELEBRATES LEGACY OF IRAMA MALAYSIA

SEREMBAN, Nov 24 (Bernama) -- ‘Karya Agung: Tribute to Pak Ngah’ concert, serves as a grand homage to the legacy of late Datuk Suhaimi Mohd Zain, fondly known as Pak Ngah, for his efforts in elevating the status of the unique ‘Irama Malaysia’ music genre.

The National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) director-general, Mohd Amran Mohd Haris said Pak Ngah’s songs and music are steeped in artistic value and cultural heritage, inspiring the younger generation to appreciate and champion these masterpieces.

“We want to ensure that the younger generation is exposed to Pak Ngah’s traditional musical creations. Many of us grew up with Pak Ngah’s music, and this initiative will continue in the future,” he told reporters.

Also present at the concert held at Raja Melewar Auditorium, National Department of Culture and Arts (JKKN) Negeri Sembilan here, last night, was State Tourism, Arts and Culture Committee chairman Nicole Tan Lee Koon.

Mohd Amran also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for allocating funds under Budget 2024 to support programmes that uplift the nation’s artistic heritage, which greatly benefit artists and the community alike.

Organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MOTAC) through JKKN, the concert featured prominent artists, including Datuk Tamimi Siregar, Dr Norzizi Zulkifli, Noraniza Idris, and Zaifri Husin.

Directed by Siso Kopratasa, the concert also featured local talents such as Fitri Ismail, Siti Nadia Zaini, Nur Nabihah Mohd Shukeri, and young singer, Cinta Suci Indah Urmila. They delivered renditions of popular songs like Cindai, Nirmala, Air Mata Syawal, and Dikir Puteri, while Ting Ting was performed by Noraniza during the nearly two-hour concert last night.

Before the concert ended, a painting of the late Pak Ngah by Mazlan Abu Bakar from the Negeri Sembilan Painters Association was presented to Pak Ngah’s son, Megat Mohd Syahraini Suhaimi, who attended the event.

Megat Mohd Syahraini, 37, expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the effort to honour his father’s music and hoped traditional songs would continue to be championed.

Beyond the concert, visitors also had the opportunity to view the late Pak Ngah’s collections and personal belongings on display. These included his accordion, musical scores, performance attire and award trophies brought by Pak Ngah Production Sdn Bhd.

Meanwhile, MOTAC in a statement said the tribute concert was a part of the ministry’s initiative, inspired by Budget 2024 presentation by the Prime Minister to uphold traditional arts and the nation’s cultural heritage.

According to the statement, the programme celebrates artistic and historical masterpieces such as traditional theater, classical dances, native music, and folklore that is rich in cultural and historical values, presented through performances nationwide.

“Our hope is that the ‘Tribute To Pak Ngah’ will bring the younger generation closer to recognising and appreciating the contributions of this iconic music figure who was behind the success of many of the nation’s renowned artists.

“Through this programme, we aim to revive and nurture a love for ‘Irama Malaysia’ music among future generations and bring it to the global stage,” it stated.

-- BERNAMA