We, the product of the post NEP era, grew literally soaked in an environment filled with the Malay Language and its culture. With limited exposure to the outside world via telecommunications, (the pre-Top of Pops and music video era), we were bombarded with cultural presentations meted out by the sole telecommunications controller of yesteryear Radio and Television Malaysia (RTM).
We were exposed to likes of singers of the 70s through 90s Sudirman, JJ, Flybaits , Ramli Sarip, Sweet Charity, Chris Vadham, Ben Nathan, Chris Vadham, Alleycats, Rafeah Buang, Wann (the singer with constipated voice), Search, etcetera . This does not include the exposure to P.Ramlee and his brand of music and humour.
We, the Malaysian post NEP generation have been exposed to lots of Malay literature and music throughout outgrowing age and we are quite well versed with the turn of events in the local scene. If not for the ever changing rules and vocabulary set the language governing authority (DBP), we would still be literary professors. A language is suppose to evolve over time but when then the structure and vocabulary changes at the lip of a coin many times within a lifetime, we call that being fickle.
Sometimes, I listen to the songs that I use to hear in my childhood on radio, specifically on Klasik FM (RIMA-Radio Irama Melayu Asli) at 93.9FM in the Klang Valley. It has since been disbanded recently and had been fused into the national Malay radio channel under the banner of Klasik Nasional.
The interesting shows there are 'Masihkah Kau Ingat?'- showcasing songs from 1970- 90 era and 'Hati Ke Hati' - request programme playing songs of the 1950-60 golden era of the Malay screen. In the new programme schedule, 'Hati ke Hati' has been slashed.
The point of discontent with these networks is that the programmers assume that all its listeners of one particular ethnic race and religion only. All the salutations and special programmes were aligned these lines and the others were assumed to uninterested and uninformed about this genre. There will be a lot of hype and razzmatazz about Ramadan, fasting, Hari Raya Puasa and Merdeka but not a single mention of Gregorian New Year, Chinese New Year, Thaipusam, Deepavali or Christmas. This way of thinking is common in all non-English speaking channels. I can vouch for the Tamil radio station as well. They assume that all Minnal FMs listeners are all Tamil speaking and of Hindu faith! Talk about stereotyping, not a mention of ushering in the Year of the Water Dragon or well wishes on Klasik Nasional FM! Anyway, Gong Xi Fa Cai!
This is the song that the quartet of us (FG, Ooi Tuck Yew, Ahmad Sabri, Rosli Amran) practised to sing for our school annual singing contest in 1982. The contest was cancelled due to lack of quorum of participants. We remember the nostalgic fond jamming sessions in the Sick Bay Room!
We were exposed to likes of singers of the 70s through 90s Sudirman, JJ, Flybaits , Ramli Sarip, Sweet Charity, Chris Vadham, Ben Nathan, Chris Vadham, Alleycats, Rafeah Buang, Wann (the singer with constipated voice), Search, etcetera . This does not include the exposure to P.Ramlee and his brand of music and humour.We, the Malaysian post NEP generation have been exposed to lots of Malay literature and music throughout outgrowing age and we are quite well versed with the turn of events in the local scene. If not for the ever changing rules and vocabulary set the language governing authority (DBP), we would still be literary professors. A language is suppose to evolve over time but when then the structure and vocabulary changes at the lip of a coin many times within a lifetime, we call that being fickle.
Sometimes, I listen to the songs that I use to hear in my childhood on radio, specifically on Klasik FM (RIMA-Radio Irama Melayu Asli) at 93.9FM in the Klang Valley. It has since been disbanded recently and had been fused into the national Malay radio channel under the banner of Klasik Nasional.
The interesting shows there are 'Masihkah Kau Ingat?'- showcasing songs from 1970- 90 era and 'Hati Ke Hati' - request programme playing songs of the 1950-60 golden era of the Malay screen. In the new programme schedule, 'Hati ke Hati' has been slashed.
The point of discontent with these networks is that the programmers assume that all its listeners of one particular ethnic race and religion only. All the salutations and special programmes were aligned these lines and the others were assumed to uninterested and uninformed about this genre. There will be a lot of hype and razzmatazz about Ramadan, fasting, Hari Raya Puasa and Merdeka but not a single mention of Gregorian New Year, Chinese New Year, Thaipusam, Deepavali or Christmas. This way of thinking is common in all non-English speaking channels. I can vouch for the Tamil radio station as well. They assume that all Minnal FMs listeners are all Tamil speaking and of Hindu faith! Talk about stereotyping, not a mention of ushering in the Year of the Water Dragon or well wishes on Klasik Nasional FM! Anyway, Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Radio 4 will every year do interview with Chinese Malaysian who can tamil year in and out as program for Deepavali!
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