Award-winning lyricist offers to compose new N-Day song

Award-winning lyricist Hasmi Hashim has offered to compose a new national day theme song following fierce criticism of the official ‘Janji Ditepati' song written by Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim.

"I believe among the children of this nation, many are talented and able to compose a song that will embody the spirit of independence of this beloved nation.

"Therefore, I gladly offer myself to help the ministry in composing and writing a national day theme song and lyrics without any payment," Hasmi said in a statement today.

Hasmi, who also goes by the stage name Buddhi Hekayat, penned the award-winning songAwan Nano.

Before this, Hasmi had criticised the national day theme song as "vulgar propaganda" and took offence to the line Janji sudah ditepati, kini masa balas budi (Promises have been fulfilled, now it's time to return the good deeds).

"After personally listening to the song and scrutinising the lyrics, I must admit that the people's criticism, particularly by those in cyberspace, is with basis," he said.

Hasmi said the Information Ministry should not prejudice his offer to help, calling on it to transcend party politics.

Political dodging 

He also criticised the government for it political talk in declaring the song, after all the heat, as "not finalised" - just as it did with this year's national day logo before it was abruptly scrapped. 

Aside from the lyrics, the song had also been plagued by controversy over claims that its melody was plagiarised from a Indonesian gospel song.

One of the song's music composers, Jasnie Mohd Yaakub,denied this but Rais - after vehemently denying the allegation -announced a panel to investigate the claim. The other two composers are Arman E six and Aye.

"Never in the history of Malaysia, has a panel had to be formed to investigate a song," said Hasmi.

He said even the claim that the melody of the national song,Negaraku, was copied from the song Terang Bulan by Indonesian composer Syaiful Bachri had not generated such furore.

"It must be emphasised that having a genuine national, independence song is fundamental patriotism that is demanded by today's general after 55 years of independence," he added.