SIBU: Sarawak Iban Artists Association (Parisa) is urging all parties not to use songs created or sung by Iban artists arbitrarily.
On the other hand, they should obtain permission or negotiate first with the artists involved if they want to make a 'cover' or breathe new life into a song, said its president Augustine Merikan.
"Our association is against copyright infringement activities as well as acts of making a profit using the work of other people without permission.
"These parties should face action in court," he said in a statement here today.
SPONSORED CONTENT Electrifying windows of opportunity in Sabah - The right policies, collaborations, and strategies can turn emerging opportunities into victories for all parties in Sabah. CHIEF Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor’s 2021 Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya Plan and the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) have laid out a road map to an exciting future for all Sabahans, with a target of increasing Sabah’s income levels and GDP per capita from about RM 23,000 to about RM 40,000 by 2030. Read more He was asked to comment on the actions of veteran singer Andrewson Ngalai Asom who filed a police report at the Stapang police station last Friday against an entertainment company that used his song "Bekikis Bulu Betis" on the YouTube channel without permission.
Augustine said in today's increasingly sophisticated world, anyone can use any equipment to plagiarize, modify, cover songs or any other copyright infringement activity.
He said the song was then made into content on YouTube and received financial rewards based on the number of netizen views.
"If you are a composer or a singer and the work is used to generate income but you don't get a single cent from that act, how do you feel?" he questioned.
He said it was natural for Ngalai, who recorded the song Bekikis Bulu Betis in 2000, which became a song of pride for the people of Sarawak and loved throughout Malaysia, to be angry with the action.
Augustine who is also a composer and singer famous for the song Bujang Paku Lawang urged composers and singers of Iban songs to register their intellectual property so that they not used arbitrarily by certain parties without permission.
He added that Parisa agreed with the actions taken by Ngalai to protect his song.
Following the popularity of the song Bekis Bulu Betis, many have covered the song including Nor Ashima Ramli or Baby Shima.
Her Facebook page was bombarded with claims that she had used the song without permission, but Baby Shima denied it.
In a post on Facebook on Sunday, Baby Shima said she had asked permission from Ngalai to use the song.
* Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss.
* Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.