Progress does not depend on mastering English
By : Brian Yap
LANGUAGE is of course one of the main pillars of any culture, a defining characteristic of any race.
Considering that Malaysia is a former British colony that is also home to three major and countless other races, it is not surprising that a plethora of languages and their dialects are used here.
What’s more, with so many foreign workers and international students in our urban centres these days, I almost have to think twice before opening my mouth  should I use Bahasa Malaysia, English, Cantonese or Mandarin?
Surprisingly, English is the language I feel most comfortable and confident using. I read, write, think and probably dream in the language. I say surprising because I never went to an English-medium school  aside from international schools, there was simply no such option available during my time. So for all 11 years of my primary and secondary education, I learned all subjects  except English, of course  in the national language.
At the same time, I had private Mandarin lessons when I was younger, but it never got very far. After quite a few years, the Taiwanese lady who taught me gave up in exasperation at my non-progress. Today, I can speak little more than casual Mandarin, and write little more than the three characters that make up my name.
It’s ironic that despite being taught Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin, English would be the language I’m most proficient in. I suspect it had a lot to do with what my pop culture references were  meaning the books and magazines I read, the TV programmes I watched and the pop stars I looked up to.
In recent years, many have lamented the decline of the English language in Malaysia. The previous administration even tried to address this by making schools teach Maths and Science in English.
While it’s hard to argue that the learning of languages, especially one that is practically universal like English, is beneficial and crucial, I feel its importance is often overrated.
More than teaching Maths and Science in English, schools need to improve the standard of both subjects instead. If improving English is important, then it could be addressed with improving the quality and quantity of lessons instead.
The decision in 2003 to teach Maths and Science in English was a controversial one. The vernacular schools felt that it was another way for the government to exert control over them, while rural schools were worried about how well prepared the teachers would be, and if their students’ performance in Maths and Science subjects would decline because of the additional burden of learning an unfamiliar language.
It has now been all but confirmed that the sudden switch wasn’t the best of ideas. The initial plan was to have Year Six pupils answer their Mathematics and Science papers completely in English from next year.
But now, examinations in English for Maths and Science subjects will continue to remain optional.
Of course, it’s not quite a reversal of the decision, but there are obviously difficulties and doubts, which unfortunately leaves the education system in a state of a limbo. All that to improve the standard of English in this country.
For all the worries about our declining standard in English, we probably do have a better command of the language than many other countries in our region, generally speaking.
I’m confident that Malaysians on average speak better English than the Thais and Indonesians, for instance. Economically developed Asian countries like Japan, Korea and, now, China, have not been particularly disadvantaged by their lack of English skills, because they have other more important things to offer  a strong work ethic, a thirst for knowledge and progress, and a quality education that provides solid foundation. These are areas Malaysia needs to be more concerned about than merely mastering English.
English-speaking Malaysians often make light of others who cannot speak the language well, as if it were the only measure of intelligence and modernity.
For instance, pop star Siti Nurhaliza has been ridiculed by some for her inability to speak in English, even when she is interacting with foreign media. The few times she’s tried, some even pointed out her mispronounced words. But why should she care? She is the biggest pop star in Malaysia, with fans all over the region.
Smug English-speaking Malaysians can make fun of her all they want, but none of them will ever sell as many records as she does, nor entertain as many people.
No doubt, it would be ideal if all Malaysians had an excellent command of English. That would surely be an advantage in a time when much of the world’s communication is conducted in that language. The Internet, for instance, is overwhelmingly dominated by content in English.
But it’s silly to think that our progress depends solely on our ability to master the language. We need Malaysians to be more hardworking, intelligent, well-read and open-minded, and we can be all of those things in whatever language we choose.
Melodi hidup dan warna cinta P.Ramlee
Oleh: JAMLIAH ABDULLAH
Dan siapakah dia yang telah berjaya menghuni hati kita semua?
Dia telah membawa makna dan kenangan cinta yang pertama…
MEREKA pernah mendendangkan kehebatan beliau dalam lagu, menitip puisi kecemerlangannya yang tiada tandingan dan berterusan menghebahkan karya-karyanya dari satu generasi ke satu generasi melalui pelbagai media.
Namun belum ada yang berani menggambarkan keistimewaan insan ini dalam satu cerita di mana kita mampu menyelami seluruh kehidupannya yang kelihatan gah itu.
Sememangnya Seniman Agung yang satu ini lebih dekat di hati kita melalui kisah-kisah yang kita baca dalam profil beliau atau karya tersohornya yang tidak pernah putus-putus ke udara di kaca televisyen.
Jika ada yang sudi menceritakan semua itu untuk membayangkan kehebatan beliau, maka haluan yang luas harus mendahuluinya. Terus terang siapa yang tidak teruja menonton kisah seniman bernama Tan Sri P.Ramlee ini setelah sekian lama dibelai oleh karya-karyanya?
Jadi fenomena yang melanda Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical (PGLtM) di Istana Budaya sedikit masa dulu pun berulang.
Jadi bukan sesuatu yang menghairankan jika teater muzikal belum pun mengambil tempat di pentas, tiket sudah pun habis terjual.
Apatah lagi apabila P.Ramlee The Musical ini turut dijayakan oleh produksi sama yang membikin muzikal tersebut iaitu Enfiniti Productions.
Adlin Aman Ramlie dan Zahim Albakri masih bersatu mengarahkan muzikal ini. Seperti PGLtM produksi ini memilih untuk menggarap masa lampau dalam mood hari ini dengan kemunculan lagu-lagu baru dan moden.
Lagu-lagu baru diilhamkan oleh Dick Lee dan muzik pula ditangan oleh Erwin Gutawa. Begitu juga koreografer PGLtM dikembali iaitu Pat Ibrahim.
Apa pun, jangan cuba untuk membandingkan kedua-dua muzikal ini kerana ia adalah dua cerita yang berbeza. Sejujurnya apa yang lebih menjual adalah kisah P.Ramlee itu sendiri.
Seperti bait-bait di atas, P.Ramlee The Musical berusaha mentafsirkan siapa beliau? Banyak yang barangkali ingin mengenali P.Ramlee dengan lebih dekat dengan menonton teater muzikal ini.
Atau sekurang-kurangnya melihat kegigihan produksi terbabit mementaskan kisah beliau yang selama ini dinanti ramai tanpa mengenal prejudis.
Sememangnya untuk insan hebat seperti P.Ramlee ini terlalu banyak yang ingin diceritakan dan persoalannya mampukah P.Ramlee The Musical?
Muzikal tersebut bermula dengan prelude yang mempertontonkan kesedihan P.Ramlee (lakonan Sean Ghazi) yang seakan-akan meratapi nasibnya di Kuala Lumpur.
Bertemankan Saloma (Liza Hanim), satu-satu persoalan yang bermain di kotak fikiran beliau adalah, adakah beliau akan terus dikenang?
Ia barangkali satu permulaan yang baik dari sudut penceritaan tatkala ia berusaha mengajak penonton untuk memahami gelojak jiwanya.
Babak-babak seterusnya adalah imbasan kembali setiap perjalanan kehidupan P.Ramlee termasuk kisah cinta dan inspirasi beliau dari zaman kanak-kanak sehingga mencipta nama menjadi insan tersohor. Berlatarkan Pulau Pinang pada akhir 30- an sehingga ke Studio Jalan Ampas, Singapura pada pertengahan tahun 60-an.
Sesuatu yang wajar dipuji dalam produksi muzikal tersebut adalah rekaan set dan transformasi dari satu latar ke satu latar.
Pihak penerbit wajar memberi pujian kepada pereka produksi. Di tangan Raja Maliq yang juga merupakan produksi PGLtM dan pasukannya, setiap latar beralih lancar biarpun masih menggunakan tenaga para ‘transformer’.
Magis di pentas kelihatan apabila produksi berjaya menghidupkan suasana kemeriahan Pulau Pinang, keceriaan Studio Jalan Ampas sehingga ke kesibukan Tanjung Pagar.
Siapa yang dapat mengagak selepas memindahkan Gunung Ledang ke pentas yang sama dulu, kini muncul pula kepala kereta api.
Sememangnya set dan latar tersebut yang mengiringi lagu Perjalanan Bintang penting dalam menghidupkan suasana termasuk memberi warna dan harapan. Tidak ketinggalan set yang bertingkat-tingkat.
Seperti yang dijanjikan, muzikal ini turut menyaksikan penampilan sulung, Datuk Siti Nurhaliza sebagai Azizah yang boleh diibaratkan sebagai cinta pertama dan kekasih halimunan P.Ramlee.
Pada batas itu, watak Azizah sekadar mengisi beberapa ruang tertentu dalam muzikal tersebut. Walaupun sekejap, ia tetap menjadi peralihan terbaik dalam kisah muzikal tersebut apabila watak Azizah juga digambarkan sebagai sumber inspirasi di sebalik kejayaan P.Ramlee.
Daripada watak tersebut juga dijelmakan lagu dan filem yang secara tidak langsung terus menjulang nama P.Ramlee.
Tidak cukup dengan lakaran tersebut, cinta P.Ramlee dan Azizah terus didendangkan melalui lagu Mulanya Cinta nyanyian Siti Nurhaliza dan Sean Ghazi.
Babak-babak seterusnya menyaksikan bagaimana P.Ramlee disanjung dan dijulang lewat bakat dan karyanya sehingga bergelar Seniman Agung di Studio Jalan Ampas. Namun seperti tagline, setiap kejayaan tersebut bersulam dengan kisah cinta beliau yang seolah datang silih berganti.
Ia bermula dari pertemuan P.Ramlee dengan isteri pertamanya, Junaidah (Atilia), Norizan (Melissa Saila) dan akhirnya Saloma (Liza Hanim).
Gelojak kehidupan peribadi P.Ramlee juga disampaikan lewat pergolakan perkahwinan beliau yang gugur satu per satu. Biarpun cemerlang dalam karier kehidupan cinta P.Ramlee agak malang kerana kegagalan perkahwinan pertama dan keduanya.
Itu nilai pergorbanan yang harus P.Ramlee bayar lewat kemasyhurannya sebagai seniman. Sememangnya tidak banyak lagu-lagu P.Ramlee didendangkan semula dalam muzikal tersebut melainkan lagu-lagu baru.
Namun yang paling melekat di hati adalah karya P.Ramlee sendiri iaitu lagu seperti seperti Azizah, Hujan Di Tengah Hari dan Airmata Di Kuala Lumpur dinyanyikan.
Lagu-lagu tersebut dinyanyikan dengan baik oleh Sean walaupun tidak cemerlang untuk menggambarkan perasaannya.
Bercakap tentang lakonan, teater muzikal ini barangkali milik Melissa. Watak Norizan yang dibawanya sangat melekat di hati penonton terutama ketika mengalunkan amukan api cemburunya dalam lagu Sudah Tidak Bermakna di hadapan suami.
Begitu juga dengan Liza Hanim yang membawakan watak Saloma. Apa yang menarik tentang artis ini adalah konsistensi lakonan dan vokalnya.
Itu sesuatu yang tidak dimiliki oleh Sean. Apa pun keberanian Sean untuk menerajui watak seniman tersebut tanpa memikirkan pelbagai rasa prejudis yang mengiringinya sebelum ini sudah layak diberi pujian.
Muzikal tersebut menutup tabir dengan lagu Airmata Di Kuala Lumpur dan Cinta Berbalas Cinta ilham Adlin apabila pentas mengembalikan dialog P.Ramlee dan Saloma yang terdahulu.
Terus terang kelancaran dan keterujaan menonton teater muzikal ini sedikit terusik dengan kesudahan seperti itu.
Setanding dengan kecemerlangan dan kehebatan beliau yang tiada tandingannya, mungkin banyak yang menginginkan suatu yang manis dan indah serta penuh inspirasi untuk dibawa pulang. Walaupun itu hakikatnya.
Kesudahan seperti itu seolah-olah kelihatan seperti ingin memujuk penonton agar menghargai jasa-jasa beliau.
Sedangkan kenyataannya, P.Ramlee tidak akan pernah meninggalkan hati kini sebaliknya terus segar melalui karya-karya beliau yang dipindahkan dari satu generasi ke satu generasi.
Kehidupan, Percintaan dan Inspirasi P.Ramlee dalam muzikal tersebut akan terus didendangkan di Panggung Sari Istana Budaya sehingga 3 November.
Antara marah dan sayang
Kisahnya ada pelbagai reaksi yang datang selepas Pancaindera berjaya merakamkan gambar Datuk Siti Nurhaliza dan ahli keluarganya baru-baru ini.
Gambar muka depan kami pada 21 Oktober lalu rupa-rupanya mendapat pro dan kontra daripada banyak pihak apabila Siti dengan mesranya bergambar dengan anak-anak Datuk K.
Yang marah kata Pancaindera tidak wajar siarkan gambar berkenaan dan perlu menghormati perasaan bekas isteri Datuk K, Tengku Zawyah.
Ada juga yang bagi tahu aksi mesra Siti Nurhaliza dan anak-anak Datuk K itu hanyalah lakonan semata-mata. Mereka sebenarnya tidak sebegitu mesra seperti yang dirakamkan oleh jurugambar. Pulak dah!
Yang sayang pula kata tahniah kerana Pancaindera berjaya dapatkan gambar keluarga berkenaan. Memang sudah lama mereka menunggu kemunculan gambar Siti bersama anak-anak tirinya dalam akhbar dan majalah bersama-sama.
Joyah ucapkan terima kasih kepada yang memberi respons kepada cerita dan gambar cover kami tu.
Kepada yang marah dan tak puas hati, hanyalah ampun dan maaf yang boleh kami hulurkan. Hendak tak hendak pun Siti sudah jadi ahli keluarga Datuk K. Jadi kami merasakan tidak ada salahnya menyiarkan gambar-gambar itu.
Apa pun Pancaindera mempunyai niat yang ikhlas. Bukti kasih sayang dan cinta. Siti sanggup berkorban kasih sayang dengan berkongsi dengan anak-anak Datuk K. Itu saja, bukan dengan tujuan menyakiti hati mana-mana pihak pun.
Not just background music
The subliminal music score is another noteworthy aspect of the historical drama 1957 Hati Malaya. Meet the person responsible for it.
1957 Hati Malaya is Sharon Paul’s first local movie project. She has previously worked with film composers in America.
THE current movie 1957 Hati Malaya should be appreciated not just for its historical values but its music that is subtle yet uplifting.
While the visual effects (shooting techniques, period costumes, and not to mention the odd pretty actress!) naturally draw the most attention, connoisseurs of soundtracks are certain to sit up and take note of the film’s impressive score.
Although the musical highlights appear to be Datuk Siti Nurhaliza’s stirring rendition of Hati, and Perlu Kamu, which is sung by Indonesian Kris Dayanti and Ajai, who also co-wrote the song, the orchestral score does warrant equal attention.
Just who is behind the music that’s so crucial to the first ever movie – helmed by the renowned director Shuhaimi Baba – that recounts the struggles that led to Malaysia’s independence 50 years ago?
The person is Sharon Paul and chances are, you may not have heard of her. My recent interview with the soundtrack composer is the first she’s ever granted.
Naturally, I start off with the insensitive comment that most orchestral soundtracks sound quite similar!
“I feel I do stand out,†states the graduate of the famed Berkelee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, who has also spent two years in Los Angeles working for film composers Daniel Licht (who did the score for Hellraiser IV) and Stephen Klong. “No one here does orchestral scoring quite like I do, because I write very complete parts for the orchestra.â€Â
Despite her confidence, Paul did experience frustrations while working on the soundtrack of Hati Malaya, her first local feature-length project. “Don’t get me wrong. I would have liked to have more freedom to choose exactly what music I felt suited the movie and how my score blended with the footage and dialogue. But any artistic collaboration, especially one of this scale, means that everyone has to sacrifice a little of their original vision,†Paul explains.
So what was her original musical vision for the movie?
“My intention was to have a lot of traditional ethnic music, but Shuhaimi was very clear that she did not want the soundtrack to come across as too ethnic. She wanted a sweeping orchestral score, not something too folky and traditional. Still, we did take Western elements and offset them with Chinese and Malay sounds,†she reveals.
Paul also utilised a trick common in classical music by employing one melodic theme for (Umno founder) Datuk Onn Jaafar and another for (first Prime Minister) Tunku Abdul Rahman. “Actually towards the end of the creative process I was influenced by the Gladiator soundtrack.
“It’s a movie about struggle and sacrifice and I wanted the music to reflect that. In the end I would have to say that I’m happy on a purely musical level, but I would also have liked to mix the music more prominently.â€Â
Indeed, one can see that there are a number of stages during which Paul would have had to compromise. For example, only 25% of the music one hears on the soundtrack is played by live musicians.
“The two violinists are Joanne Yeoh and Yap Yen and I also used a lot of samples from the online libraries East West and the Moto Symphonic.
Nothing captures an emotional scene better than music, such as this in 1957 Hati Malaya where the crowd at an Umno meeting donates money to fund Tunku’s pro-independence talks in London.
“String arrangements are my forte and Shuhaimi loves the sound of solo violins to emphasise the rousing of emotions. There are some critical scenes like the one where the crowd at an Umno meeting collects money for Tunku to go to London and at this point the emotion is best expressed by the music.â€Â
Paul didn’t just write the orchestral score, however. She also composed the music for Siti’s Hati, with lyrics by Shuhaimi.
“I am very happy with Siti’s performance. No one else could have sung this song for this movie and given it a similar impact,†she enthuses.
I couldn’t help but notice that when the movie first switches out of the 1950s into current time, there is a piece of music that sounds as if it is inspired by Indonesian rock bands.
Paul laughs. “Yes, actually that’s a snippet from another song of mine and I did write it in the style of the Ratu, the Indonesian girl rockers. I really like the piece of music, but I haven’t finished it. I need to find a vocalist, in fact!â€Â
For such a talented composer, Paul is rather low-key. Of mixed Indian, Chinese and Portuguese parentage, she is a former student of Ampang Road Girls’ School and Ocean Institute of Engineering, in Kuala Lumpur. The still-single 30-year-old describes her hobbies as “travelling, watching movies (sometimes just to listen to the effect the soundtrack has), going out with friends and occasionally scuba diving.â€Â
Her eventual emergence as a soundtrack composer can be viewed as a fulfilment of her late father’s dream.
“My father was a tax inspector, but he had always wanted to learn music as a child and was too poor. When he got the chance to support my dream, he was only too glad to help,†says the KL-born lass, the elder of two siblings.
Her first inspiration was perhaps an unlikely source. “I was really inspired by (the Malaysian musician) Jenny Chin. She may not be known so well to the general public, but I remember watching her do work as a keyboardist and arranger for Sheila Majid and Zainal Abidin and thinking, ‘I want to be her.’ As I focused more on international movie soundtracks, I realised that my heroes are established soundtrack legends like John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith. I also like the work of Tim Burton’s preferred composer Danny Elfman.â€Â
It was by chance that she ended up working on Hati Malaya. “Shuhaimi saw me on the Bob Azrai TV show, Oh Mu La La, during which he interviewed upcoming composers. She then called me up and after hearing that strings were my strength, asked for a sample of my work. When she heard it, she got me on board for the movie.â€Â
Admitting that it isn’t always easy both artistically and financially to work as a soundtrack composer, Paul has no intentions of curtailing her ambitions, and is intent on making it not just inside Malaysia, but internationally.
“We are hoping to have the soundtrack released in the next few weeks. Sometimes I get scared that people might not be ready to accept it. But I believe that it’s only a matter of time before there is an audience for this sort of music. I intend this to be just the beginning of my career.â€Â
‘1957 Hati Malaya’ is currently showing in cinemas nationwide.
OST – Spa Q : Ku Mahu
Sesaat ku terkesima
Pada indah personamu
Sekilas kau senyum padaku
Melarutkanmu dalam kasihkuSesaat ku terpesona
Pada warna ceriamu
Sayangnya telah ku hidu
Semua paparanmu palsuIndah impian cintaku
Namun realiti tak seharum
Yang ku impikan kerna
Cintamu tak sejatiKu mahu kesetiaan dan kejujuran
Kasih sayang yang tiada bersempadan
Pengorbanan cinta yang tulus dan lahir dari keikhlasanNamun kau hanya mampu memberi janji palsu
Dan kita pun terdorong hawa nafsu
Semua yang kau berita benar dan tak kan menjadi ertiSelamanya takkan ku lupa
Kau ajar ku seksa
Kau pandai berkata-kata
Hingga aku deritaSelamanya ku berjaga-jaga
Tak sanggup ku kenang
Cukuplah sekali terluka
Kan ku ingat sentiasaIndah impian cintaku
Namun realiti tak seharum
Yang ku impikan kerna
Cintamu tak sejatiKu mahu kesetiaan dan kejujuran
Kasih sayang yang tiada bersempadan
Pengorbanan cinta yang tulus dan lahir dari keikhlasanNamun kau hanya mampu memberi janji palsu
Dan kita pun terdorong hawa nafsu
Semua yang kau berita benar dan tak kan menjadi ertiAku bukanlah boneka mu
Ku tak rela dipermainkan
Lebih baik sendiri
Dari terseksa di tangan muApa yang aku mahu
Indah impian cintaku
Namun realiti tak seharum
Yang ku impikan kerna
Cintamu tak sejatiKu mahu kesetiaan dan kejujuran
Kasih sayang yang tiada bersempadan
Pengorbanan cinta yang tulus dan lahir dari keikhlasanNamun kau hanya mampu memberi janji palsu
Dan kita pun terdorong hawa nafsu
Semua yang kau berita benar dan tak kan menjadi ertiKu mahu kesetiaan dan kejujuran
Kasih sayang yang tiada bersempadan
Pengorbanan cinta yang tulus dan lahir dari keikhlasanNamun kau hanya mampu memberi janji palsu
Dan kita pon terdorong hawa nafsu
Semua yang kau berita benar dan tak kan menjadi erti
lirik dari www.budiey.com
Jom Komen Artis Lain Di MySelebriti.Com!
Hello semua member2 simplysiti.com, anda semua diperlawa ke MySelebriti.Com. Sila-silalah beri komen kalau nak puji atau nak kutuk artis-artis selain Datuk Siti Nurhaliza.
Ulasan P.Ramlee The Musical
Jom baca apa penonton-penonton P.Ramlee The Musical kata mengenai Datuk Siti Nurhaliza.
peranan melissa saila serta kebolehan nye di pentas teater sememangnye telah well known.
After 2 hours I was amazed by Sean Ghazi’s talent. Siti was beginning to fade into the background.
Jujurnya kehadiran watak Azizah langsung tidak memberikan impak, malah jika peranan itu ditiadakan juga tidak mencacatkan perjalanan cerita itu andai sejarah awal pembabitan P Ramlee di dunia seni dipadamkan penulis skrip.
Barangkali kerana ia lakonan pertama, Siti dilihat masih dalam proses untuk ‘meresapkan’ nyawa Azizah dalam lakonannya hingga sesekali dia seperti sedang membuat persembahan nyanyian.
aaa…meet Siti live..dua tapak je depan aku..my hand shaking beb masa amik pic ni..siyes shit!dapat gak tgk Datuk K n anak2 dia..tapi Siti mcm sombong sikit la tadi..mb penat kot.
Gambar:
Hajat Siti Nurhaliza temui Hui Yee tidak kesampaian
KUALA LUMPUR 22 Okt. – Hajat penyanyi terkenal, Datuk Siti Nurhaliza Taruddin mengunjungi penerima jantung baru, Tee Hui Yee bagi memenuhi impian gadis itu di Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) semalam, tidak kesampaian.
Menurut pengurus penyanyi itu, Rozi Abdul Razak, Siti tidak berpeluang melawat Hui Yee kerana remaja itu masih berada di Wad Unit Rawatan Rapi (ICU) IJN dan tidak dibenarkan menerima tetamu.
“Semalam, Siti mempunyai masa terluang pada sebelah petang dan sedang bersiap untuk melawat Hui Yee sehinggalah kami mendapat panggilan telefon dari IJN yang mengatakan Hui Yee masih belum boleh menerima tetamu,†katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia di sini, hari ini.
Selain peserta Akademi Fantasia 4, Lotter, Hui Yee sebelum ini menyatakan hajatnya untuk menemui Siti Nurhaliza yang merupakan penyanyi kesayangannya apabila sembuh kelak.
Rozi berkata, apabila mengetahui hajatnya itu, Siti sentiasa mengambil tahu perkembangan kesihatan Hui Yee dan ingin memenuhi hajat remaja itu.
“Tetapi nampaknya belum kesampaian selagi Hui Yee masih berada di ICU,†katanya.
Sementara itu Penyelaras Pemindahan Jantung dan Paru-paru IJN, Noor Salina Othman berkata, kesihatan Hui Yee semakin bertambah baik dari hari ke hari.
“Walaupun begitu, Hui Yee masih perlu berada di ICU sehingga satu tempoh yang belum dapat dipastikan lagi.
“Selagi di ICU, Hui Yee belum boleh menerima kedatangan tetamu kecuali ahli keluarga terdekat,†katanya.
Menurutnya lagi, Hui Yee kini sudah mampu berjalan dengan alat bantuan dalam sesi terapi fizikal.
“Dia boleh menapakkan kaki dan berjalan secara perlahan-lahan, semua ini dilakukan supaya Hui Yee kembali bertenaga dan sihat,†katanya.
Ibu Hui Yee, Dina Bato Sam Bua ketika dihubungi sedang menyuapkan anaknya itu dengan sekeping roti bersapu jem dan mentega untuk minum petang.
“Selera Hui Yee begitu baik, apatah lagi apabila disuapkan oleh saya sendiri, kadang kala bertambah,†katanya.
Ramlee musical a smash hit
P. Ramlee (Sean Ghazi) on a train to Singapore.
All seats for the P. Ramlee musical have been taken, for the duration. DENNIS CHUA reviews the show.
P. Ramlee (Sean Ghazi) and Saloma (Liza Hanim).
TAKING on the life story of Malaysia’s King of Entertainment is a monster challenge particularly when the country is marking its 50th anniversary.
But executive producer Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina and Enfiniti Productions successfully created the first major musical on P Ramlee by focusing on the human side.
If one measures success by ticket sales, P. Ramlee The Musical … The Life, The Loves And The Inspiration is certainly a winner, as all seats in Istana Budaya from Oct 18 to Nov 3 were taken on the first night itself.
Trimming Ramlee’s story down to that of a screen idol longing to be loved struck a chord with the audience, as few Malaysians know of him beyond his iconic status, songs and movies.
Props “carbon-copied†from Ramlee films, footage of his films, his movie posters and “newspaper reportsâ€Â, accurate retro-fashion, stage technology which changes scenes by elevation, curtains emerging from all sides and credits in black-and-white, added to the show’s appeal.
The story begins and ends in 1973, with Ramlee’s last days at the Jalan Dedap bungalow in Kuala Lumpur that is now a memorial museum. Pudgy and tired, he busily composes his last hit song Air Mata Di Kuala Lumpur as a thunderstorm roars outside.
Ramlee (played by Sean Ghazi) retires to his favourite sofa and is joined by his third wife and soul mate Saloma (Liza Hanim), who assures him that the country will never forget him once he is gone.
Ramlee’s sadness slowly turns into a smile, as he reminisces on his journey to stardom beginning in Penang 36 years earlier.
Young Ramlee, played with zest by up-and-coming theatrical talent Mikhail Merican, 12, often plays truant from school, sings and dances to cendol customers and brings George Town’s streets alive.
The Penangites have high hopes for the boy to become a star, but Ramlee is soon distracted by his second dream, to win the love of rich girl Azizah, played convincingly by RTM Young Star 2005 winner Nurazliana (Lynn) Rusli.
Azizah and Ramlee are drawn to each other, but her mother (Soefira Jaafar) forbids her from going out with him.
Later, in his 20s, Ramlee wins a talent contest in Bukit Mertajam singing his first hit Azizah, composed with his childhood sweetheart, now portrayed by pop queen Datuk Siti Nurhaliza, in mind.
Film director B.S. Rajhans (choreographer Joseph Gonzales) who works with the Shaw brothers, Run Run (Colin Kirton) and Runme (Douglas Lim), and their company Malay Film Productions in Singapore, invite Ramlee to pursue an acting and singing career in Singapore.
Ramlee is heavy-hearted as this means leaving Azizah, but in Siti’s defining moment of her theatrical debut, she performs the moving Mulanya Cinta and encourages him to reach for the stars.
Joined by his best pal Sukardi (Chedd Yusoff of So You Think You Can Dance?), Ramlee boards a Singapore-bound train, and ends up at the Jalan Ampas studio, where he meets his future father-in-law, actor Daeng Harris (Wan Kenari Ibrahim).
Ramlee later marries Harris’ actress daughter Junaidah, played by jazz singer Raja Atilia Raja Haron, in a scene reminiscent of his comedies. The marriage is shortlived, as Ramlee is too busy chasing fame, and he soon ends up with the elegant Norizan Mohd Noor, the ex-wife of Sultan Yussuf Shah of Perak.
Sadly, Ramlee’s new added responsibilities as a director and composer keeps him away from the tempestuous and possessive Norizan who is convincingly played (right down to her facial expressions) by Saloma’s real-life niece and award-winning actress Melissa Saila. The couple often quarrel, and yet another marriage ends.
Ramlee eventually gets smitten by singer Salmah Ismail or Saloma, a fellow divorcee who was his secret admirer. They become duet partners, as she proves a gifted interpreter of his works.
Their professional relationship quickly becomes romantic for “Remy†admits to “Sally†that he cannot spend a day without her in the romantic Taman Tasik Titiwangsa.
Meanwhile, the Shaws face problems of their own as political instability rocks Singapore and the island chooses to leave Malaysia. Studio staff are angry with the Shaws’ act of retrenching and “underpaying†them.
Throughout the musical, Ramlee and his wives are confronted by four paparazzi members played by GangStarz pop group Infinatez. First-timers in theatre, they were cut out for the job.
However, the main supporting stars were Izlyn Ramli, Maya Tan Abdullah and Ida Mariana, who opened every scene as colourful, singing narrators.
While experienced Melissa proved the most applauded of Ramlee’s wives, Atilia and Liza also deserved kudos for mastering their respective characters, right down to their fashion and accents.
And all three are great singers who hold their own against Siti, who was not bad at all as a first-time actress.
Sean is living proof that hard work pays. While he hardly resembles Ramlee, the former Broadway actor and award-winning singer made extra effort to adopt the legend’s mannerisms, speech and style.
He was best as a distraught Ramlee freshly divorced from Norizan and a cheeky Ramlee wooing Saloma in between rehearsals.
Tiara picked the right man for the director’s job, her ex-Puteri Gunung Ledang co-star Adlin Aman Ramlie who is the son of Ramlee’s fellow actor A.R. Tompel.
Adlin co-directed the play with Zahim Albakri, and also wrote its 20 songs such as Mulanya Cinta and Lihatlah Dia. Ramlee’s evergreen hits such as Di Mana Kan Kau Cari Ganti, Azizah and Istana Cinta were also performed by Sean and Liza.
As Ramlee is also loved in Singapore and Indonesia, renowned Singaporean composer Dick Lee was roped in as composer and Indonesian maestro Erwin Gutawa as music director.
In a year of biographical musicals, Ramlee’s story stands out as first among equals.