SABAHAN artistes are encouraged to continue their endeavours in music and singing as Music Rights Sabah Berhad (MRS), a government-recognised music licensing body, will give due protection to their rights.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said MRS, which was established in January this year, will continuously care for the welfare of local artistes.
“This body is recognised to carry out royalty collection activities representing singers, musicians, music video makers and local recording companies involving ethnic groups.
“Thus, with the existence of this body, it will encourage local art activists to continue to work and uphold the local music industry in the State.
“There is no such thing as being slow in recognising the rights of artistes in Sabah whether singers or musicians because we are always moving forward and looking for the best method to protect them,” he said when officiating the Riuh Bah! With Hotlink programme at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) in Kota Kinabalu on June 4.
As such, Hajiji suggested that associations from various ethnic groups in Sabah continue to strengthen their respective cultural art, customs and languages so as not to be swept away by the rapid currents of globalisation.
“This is important to ensure the State’s cultural diversity continues to be strengthened and not marginalised by modernisation and technological advancement. We cannot allow any ethnic group to go extinct without knowing its existence.
“I believe there are many more cultures in terms of multi-ethnic dance and music in Sabah that have yet to be explored to be highlighted,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hajiji said the three-day Riuh Bah programme is an ideal platform to boost Sabah’s creative industry, thus benefiting the local community and the people as a whole.
He hoped the effort will help promote the local creative arts in Sabah and elevate it onto the global arena, while reviving economic activities in the State’s creative industry.
The Riuh Bah! With Hotlink is part of the nationwide Kembara Riuh Keluarga Malaysia programme which will be held in 14 locations throughout Malaysia. Sabah is the second State to host the programme, after Johor.
The programme, aimed at revitalising the creative industry from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, was approved by the Dewan Rakyat last year with an allocation of RM20 million under the 2022 budget.
It brings together local creative entrepreneurs and art practitioners from 10 creative industry branches covering music, performing arts, creative content, literature, design, cultural and traditional arts, culinary arts, visual arts, fashion and creative education.
During the event, visitors experience a variety of attractions, including local creative goods, art and music performances, creative workshops, art exhibitions, pop-up stalls and a variety of food and beverages.
In Sabah, visitors would be treated to special performances by Datuk Jamal Abdillah, Datuk DJ Jave, Estranged, Atmosfera, Velvet Aduk and Linda Nanuwil, among others.
Meanwhile, Hajiji paid tribute to pioneering Kadazan singer, Datuk Justin Stimol, whose passing has left a void in the local music industry.
“His contribution was so immense that not only he introduced Sabah to the world but also promoted local songs, particularly in the Kadazan language. In 1983, the United Nations invited Justin to perform in New York in conjunction with the Culture and Traditional International Conference.
“In 2016, Justin was invited to Budapest, Hungary to attend the 50th Anniversary of the Revolution and Freedom Fight 1956 in recognition of the poem he wrote entitled ‘Kahagaasan’ or Freedom that was translated to Magyar, a native Hungarian language, which was published in the Red Book of Gloria Victis 1956,” he said in a recorded message at the appreciation night for Stimol.
Hajiji said Stimol was a legend of Kadazan songs, having composed his first song at the age of 16, entitled “Ada Hiivai Piniumpangazan” sung by his sister Evelyn Ebin. Born on Nov 7, 1938, Stimol’s first hit song “Maggie” was aired by RTM in 1962, followed by other hits, including “Sonsomido” and many more.
The Chief Minister hoped the fundraising activities to build the Datuk Justin Stimol Gallery will be successful as a recognition of his contribution.
“He (Justin) might be gone but his soul continues to live on with us through his songs,” he said.
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