3/09/2025

LYFE WEDNESDAY | SEP 3, 2025

25

National pride

M ALAYSIA made headlines at this year’s InterContinental Music Awards in Los Angeles, California, as three Malaysian artistes brought home major wins from a pool of over 500 finalists representing more than 50 countries across Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa, Australia and North America. Leading the victories was award-winning singer-songwriter and Grammy voting member Heerraa, who won the Best in North America (Folk) award for her song Love Wins , a collaboration with Nashville-based producer Justine Blazer. She was joined by Sabahan folk rock band Tuni Sundatang, whose mission of reviving Dusun culture earned them the Best in Asia (Asian Folk) award for its song Highlanders . Pianist and new age composer Edward Kee rounded out the triple win, taking home the Best in Pangea (New Age) award for his composition Rise Up . It was a momentous feat for Heerraa, who also secured a second international o Triple win for Malaysians at award show in Los Angeles music as a medium to raise awareness and inspire society regarding the Palestinian struggle. “I really believe music is one of the powerful mediums out there to reach out, to affect, to inspire. That’s why it can be used both in good and bad ways. “And Allah protects us, so we always use it in a good way, raise awareness and inspire people, bring people back to the beautiful religion we have, Islam. Definitely, it plays a huge role,” he said. Meanwhile, Maher described his brief encounter with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during Friday prayers at Masjid Al-Ehsan, Bandar Kinrara, Puchong, as a deeply meaningful experience. He was impressed by Anwar’s personality, describing him as a humble leader of the people. “You just forget about the position that he is in. We are all humans and it’s really amazing to see how humble he is. MasyaAllah,” he said, recalling the memorable moment of praying alongside Anwar and about 1,000 congregants at the mosque. Thousands of fans packed the Idea Live Arena to witness Maher’s performance, marking his return to Malaysia after six years. He performed 19 popular songs, including InsyaAllah , For the Rest of My Life, Medina and Barakallah , as well as his latest release La Tahzan , which was performed for the first time. – Bernama

Kee wins the Best in Pangea (New Age) award at the InterContinental Music Awards.

Sabahan folk rock band Tuni Sundatang wins the Best in Asia (Asian Folk) award for its song Highlanders . – PICS FROM INTERCONTINENTAL MUSIC AWARDS

Instrumentalist) for her rendition of the classic Flight of the Bumblebee . The InterContinental Music Awards, held annually in Los Angeles, celebrates outstanding musicians from across the globe, spotlighting diverse genres and cultures.

include Vincent Yong, who was nominated in the Best in Asia (Asian Pop) category for his song Twilight Dance . Traditopia competed in the Best in Pangea (World Music) category with Sakti Sang Puteri, while Isabelle Wyen-Lam Yong was recognised in the Performance category (Best

accolade at the International Singer-Songwriters Association Awards in Atlanta, where she was honoured with the Female Songwriter of the Year (Gold Award – International Category). Other Malaysian artistes who also stood out as finalists at the InterContinental Music Awards

Heerraa wins the Best in North America (Folk) award for her song Love Wins . – PIC FROM ET BOOST

Maher Zain praises M’sia’s support for Palestinians

Veteran artistes share stage for charity concert SIXTEEN veteran singers from the 1960s to the 1990s recently dazzled audiences and lit up the stage at the Gema Suara Emas Charity Concert.

POPULAR Lebanese singer Maher Zain has praised Malaysia for consistently championing the Palestinian cause and demonstrating strong solidarity on international humanitarian issues. Maher, 44, said such spirit sets an example for other countries, proving the importance of courageous leadership that speaks out against oppression. “This is something that we knew and we’re proud of … we need more countries such as you, people such as you and leaders such as you. “To stand up for justice and against oppression, all of what we see right now in many countries, especially Palestine,” he told a media conference after the Maher Zain The Live Experience concert at Idea Live Arena recently. He also emphasised the role of

The concert, organised by the World Youth Foundation (WYF) in collaboration with the Malaysian Veteran Artistes Welfare Association, was held from 8pm to 11pm last Friday at Dewan World Youth Foundation in Ayer Keroh. Speaking before the concert, PKAVM acting president Sandakiah Azez said the concert would bring veteran artistes together for the first time in a grand performance, featuring some 28 of their most popular hits. “All the artistes have given their full commitment and are fully prepared to entertain the audience. This concert is also an effort to bring back nostalgia and introduce our music to the youth,” she said at a pre-concert press conference in Banda Hilir. According to Sandakiah, 70% of the ticket sales proceeds would go to PKAVM to support veteran artistes through welfare assistance, motivational programmes, skills workshops and related initiatives. Apart from ticket sales, she said PKAVM was also accepting donations from companies and individuals to boost the association’s welfare fund. “We hope the concert will receive a good response from the public, allowing them to learn more about the welfare of veteran artistes, who have done so much for the country’s arts scene. We’ve also planned lots of interesting and

WYF secretary-general Datuk Norsabrina Mohd Noor (left) and Sandakiah (second from right) with artistes at a press conference. – PICS FROM BERNAMA

“That is why we decided to hold this concert – to give the public, especially the youth, a chance to get to know veteran artistes who have contributed greatly to the country’s arts industry,” he said. The charity concert featured the artistes performing their greatest hits, accompanied by Band Warisan Legenda (The Sound of the Sixties), led by Abass Abu Bakar. Among the artistes who performed that night were Datuk Jefrydin, A. Rahman Onn, J. Sham, S. Mariam, Helen Velu, Zalifah Ibrahim, A. Razak, Junainah M. Amin, Datuk Siti Fairus, Zaiton Sameon, Roslan Madun, Seri Sarimah and Hairee Kool. – Bernama

entertaining segments for the audience,” she said. Meanwhile, WYF chairman Datuk Mohd Ridhwan Mohd Ali said the charity concert was also held in conjunction with the 76th birthday celebration of Malacca’s Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Ali Rustam. He said the programme also offered veteran artistes the chance to perform and earn an income, as some were still fit and energetic enough to take the stage. “However, some of them have been without job offers for quite some time as they compete with younger performers who have more followers.

Maher gives a soulful performance of his celebrated hits.