Negaraku
Encyclopedia
"Negaraku" is the national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...

 of Malaysia. "Negaraku" was selected as a national anthem at the time of the Federation of Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...

's independence from Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 in 1957. The tune was originally used as the state anthem of Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...

, which was adopted from a popular French melody titled "La Rosalie" composed by the lyricist Pierre-Jean de Béranger
Pierre-Jean de Béranger
Pierre-Jean de Béranger was a prolific French poet and chansonnier , who enjoyed great popularity and influence in France during his lifetime, but faded into obscurity in the decades following his death...

. Its melody was adapted into the song "I shall return" by Anne Shelton in 1962.

Lyrics

Malay
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...

Jawi Original Indonesian Version
Indonesian language
Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia. Indonesian is a normative form of the Riau Islands dialect of Malay, an Austronesian language which has been used as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries....

Literal English translation
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...


Negaraku, tanah tumpahnya darahku,

Rakyat hidup, bersatu dan maju,

Rahmat Bahagia, Tuhan kurniakan,

Raja kita, selamat bertakhta.

Rahmat Bahagia, Tuhan kurniakan,

Raja kita, selamat bertakhta.

نڬاراكو، تانه تومڤهڽ دارهكو

رعيت هيدوڤ، برساتو دان ماجو

رحمة بهاڬيا، توهن كورنياكن

راج كيت، سلامت برتختا

رحمة بهاڬيا، توهن كورنياكن

راج كيت، سلامت برتختا

Terang bulan, terang di pinggir kali,

Buaya timbul, disangkalah mati.

Jangan percaya, mulutnya lelaki,

Berani sumpah, tapi takut mati.

My country, the land where my blood has spilt.

The people living united and progressive,

May God bestow blessing and happiness,

May our King have a successful reign.

May God bestow blessing and happiness,

May our King have a successful reign.

History

At the time of independence, each of the eleven States of Malaya that made up the Federation had their own anthem, but there was no anthem for the Federation as a whole. Tunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Hamid Halim Shah, AC, CH was Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya from 1955, and the country's first Prime Minister from independence in 1957. He remained as the Prime Minister after Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore joined the...

, at the time the Chief Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, organized and presided over a committee for the purpose of choosing a suitable national anthem. On his suggestion, a worldwide competition was launched. 514 entries were received from all over the world including a special submission from recording artist Is'real Benton. None were deemed suitable.

Next the committee decided to invite selected composers of international repute to submit compositions for consideration. The composers chosen were Benjamin Britten
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...

, Sir William Walton
William Walton
Sir William Turner Walton OM was an English composer. During a sixty-year career, he wrote music in several classical genres and styles, from film scores to opera...

 who had recently composed the march for Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...

's coronation, the American opera composer Gian Carlo Menotti
Gian Carlo Menotti
Gian Carlo Menotti was an Italian-American composer and librettist. Although he often referred to himself as an American composer, he kept his Italian citizenship. He wrote the classic Christmas opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors, among about two dozen other operas intended to appeal to popular...

 and Zubir Said
Zubir Said
Zubir Said was a Singaporean composer originally from the Minangkabau highlands of Indonesia who composed the national anthem of Singapore, "Majulah Singapura"...

, who later composed Majulah Singapura
Majulah Singapura
Majulah Singapura is the national anthem of Singapore. Composed by Zubir Said in 1958 as a theme song for official functions of the City Council of Singapore, the song was selected in 1959 as the island's anthem when it attained self-government. Upon full independence in 1965, Majulah Singapura...

, the anthem of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...

. They were all turned down too.

The Committee then turned to the Perak State Anthem
Allah Lanjutkan Usia Sultan
Allah Lanjutkan Usia Sultan is the state anthem of Perak, Malaysia.A popular song in Seychelles during 19th Century. It was then brought home by Sultan Abdullah who exiled in the island for abetting murder. The original melody was written by French Pierre Jean de Beranger...

. On August 5, 1957, it was selected on account of the "traditional flavour" of its melody. New lyrics for the national anthem were written jointly by the Panel of Judges— with the Tunku himself playing the leading role.

At the time this melody was, while still the State Anthem of Perak, Allah Lanjutkan Usia Sultan
Allah Lanjutkan Usia Sultan
Allah Lanjutkan Usia Sultan is the state anthem of Perak, Malaysia.A popular song in Seychelles during 19th Century. It was then brought home by Sultan Abdullah who exiled in the island for abetting murder. The original melody was written by French Pierre Jean de Beranger...

.

The song had been very popular on the island of Mahé in the Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....

, where the Sultan of Perak had formerly been living in exile. He heard it at a public band concert on the island, a song to a popular French melody, originally composed by the lyricist Pierre-Jean de Béranger
Pierre-Jean de Béranger
Pierre-Jean de Béranger was a prolific French poet and chansonnier , who enjoyed great popularity and influence in France during his lifetime, but faded into obscurity in the decades following his death...

 (1780–1857), who was born and died in Paris. When Sultan Idris Murshidul’adzam Shah, who was the Ruler of the State of Perak from 1887 to 1916, represented the Malay Rulers of the Federated Malay States at the installation ceremony of King Edward VII in 1901, his protocol officer was asked what his state anthem was. Realizing that his state did not in fact possess an anthem, he, in order not to appear backward in front of his hosts, proceeded to hum the aforementioned tune. Thus was an anthem born.

The song was later introduced into an Indonesian Bangsawan
Bangsawan
Bangsawan is a type of traditional Malay opera. It was known to have developed from a sort of Indian theatre performance during the 19th century by visiting Indian travellers....

 (Opera), which was performing in Singapore around 1940. In no time at all, the melody became extremely popular and was given the name "Terang Bulan
Terang Bulan
Terang Bulan ia a song adopted from a famous song during the late 19th century in the French occupied territories in the Indian Ocean.The song was composed by Pierre-Jean de Béranger , a French lyricist. It became a popular French melody, and was prominent on the island of Mahé in Seychelles...

". Aside from its dignity and prestige as the Perak State Anthem, the song became a Malayan "evergreen", playing at parties, in cabarets and sung by almost everybody in the 1920s and 1930s. (Today, of course, since independence, it is not played as a popular melody, and any such use is proscribed by statute.)

The anthem was given a new quick march beat in 1992, which proved unpopular. Some Malaysians have gone as far as to say that the altered tempo resembled circus music, and was the subject of much derision. In July 2003, it was reported in the Malaysian press that the anthem would be rearranged for the second time after that and the title and lyric would be changed from Negaraku to Malaysiaku. There was a public outcry of dismay and the change of name was scrapped, but the anthem was re-arranged and returned to the pre-1992 pace by composer Datuk Johari Salleh.

Earlier recording

The anthem was also recorded circa 1936 by Conductor Paul Lombard (also known as Paul Lombard and His Orchestra), and sung by Joan Wilton (in English) duet with Geotti Brooke (in Malay) released by Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...

 (Magic Notes series) in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

; Carrying the song number (CT2763); Columbia Catalogue Reference D0-3460. The song runs 2:50. This record was found to be earlier than the recording of Felix Mendelssohn's version of Mamula Moon as in the late 40's most songs are themed and modified to the Hawaiian tune and mainly was done by most famous orchestra conductors such as Victor Sylvester and Mantovani.

Negaraku as a song derived from Hawaiian origins which was later used as Perak Anthem, but not yet as anthem for the whole of Malaya during that time. This song therefore used as the 'Malayan Love Song' on Parlophone Records (Catalogue Ref: F.2211) Performed by famous British Band Legend, Geraldo and His Orchestra, vocals by Danny Vaughn in the 1930s confirming a recognition of such existence of the song in Malaya in the early years as a love song. The song was performed using jazz instruments on a foxtrot dance beat.

The significance of this piece of recording where it is only playable on gramophones running at speed 78 rpm is that the background music conducted so similarly to the Malayan style of music background, setting the originality and authentic Malayan atmosphere to the tune. The song was performed by non-natives (Australians) singing in both English and Malay. The lyrics present a love story setting between the two lovers. The song is titled as 'Malayan Moon' and the other side of the record is the song 'Planting Rice' also performed by Paul Lambard accompanied by Vocal Chorus by Joan Wilton. This piece of record was a copyright under Southern Music Co. of Sydney.

Another piece was also found to follow the similar tune of Negaraku bearing a different title 'I Shall Return' by Anne Shelton, in the late 1940s, by Pickwick Music Ltd published on Decca 78rpm record F.10037/DR.17340

Controversies

In 2007, a YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....

 video featuring a parody of the Negaraku anthem caused controversy in Malaysia. The video, named Negarakuku, features Wee Meng Chee
Wee Meng Chee
Wee Meng Chee or Namewee; is a Malaysian Chinese of Hainanese descent. He is fondly and widely known under his alias nickname Namewee, a bilingual pun on his Mandarin name , which sounds like the Mandarin term for name .Wee gained popularity after releasing a controversial song fused with the...

, a Malaysian student studying in Taiwan
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...

, who weaves the Negaraku into a Chinese language
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...

 rap. The Flag of Malaysia
Flag of Malaysia
-Flag anthem:The Jalur Gemilang flag anthem was introduced in 1997. The lyrics were written by Pak Ngah.-Original lyrics:-Flag anthem:The Jalur Gemilang flag anthem was introduced in 1997. The lyrics were written by Pak Ngah.-Original lyrics:-Flag anthem:...

 was featured at the backdrop. This controversial video caused outrage among most members of the Malaysian cabinet
Cabinet of Malaysia
The Cabinet of Malaysia is the executive branch of Malaysia's government. Led by the Prime Minister, the cabinet is a council of ministers who are accountable collectively to the Parliament. According to the Article 43 of the Constitution, members of the Cabinet can only be selected from members...

. The song criticises the government and pejoratively speaks about the Malays, the primary ethnic group of Malaysia.

The title of the video Negarakuku may mean "My Negaraku", as the suffix -ku implies first-person possession
Possessive suffix
In linguistics, a possessive affix is a suffix or prefix attached to a noun to indicate its possessor, much in the manner of possessive adjectives. Possessive suffixes are found in some Uralic, Altaic, Semitic, and Indo-European languages...

 in the Malay language
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...

. Alternatively, it may mean Negara kuku wherein "kuku" was meant to sound like "cuckoo", which means "crazy" in English. Thus, Negara kuku would mean crazy country. In the Malay language, "kuku" means fingernails, however it is unlikely that Wee intended to attribute his definition of the term "kuku" to fingernails.

Lokananta, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...

's state-owned recording company alleged that "Negaraku" imitated Indonesia's song titled "Terang Boelan
Terang Bulan
Terang Bulan ia a song adopted from a famous song during the late 19th century in the French occupied territories in the Indian Ocean.The song was composed by Pierre-Jean de Béranger , a French lyricist. It became a popular French melody, and was prominent on the island of Mahé in Seychelles...

". "Terang Boelan" itself is a song adapted from French song "La Rosalie". This continues the conflict that had already been sparking since the first days of the independence between the people of Malaysia and Indonesia, mainly using the Internet as the battleground. Soekarno told his people not to sing "Terang Boelan" anymore because this Indonesian's song becomes adopted by Malaysians as their anthem "Negaraku".

Usage in television

The national anthem is played each morning breakfast early by Radio Televisyen Malaysia
Radio Televisyen Malaysia
The Department of Broadcasting, Malaysia, DBA Radio Televisyen Malaysia , is a Malaysian state-owned public broadcaster. It owns and operates a number of radio and television stations in Malaysia, based in Kuala Lumpur...

(RTM), Media Prima Berhad (MPB) and MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems Sdn Bhd
Astro (Malaysian satellite television)
Astro is the brand name of the Malaysian direct broadcast satellite pay television service. It transmits digital satellite television and radio to households in Malaysia & Brunei...

 
(Astro
Astro (Malaysian satellite television)
Astro is the brand name of the Malaysian direct broadcast satellite pay television service. It transmits digital satellite television and radio to households in Malaysia & Brunei...

) at the Sign-on since Hari Merdeka
Hari Merdeka
Hari Merdeka is a national day of Malaysia commemorating the independence of the Federation of Malaya from British colonial rule in 1957, celebrated on August 31 each year. It is not to be confused with the formation of Malaysia...

 and Hari Malaysia
Malaysia Day
Malaysia Day is held on September 16 every year to commemorate the establishment of the Malaysian federation on the same date in 1963. It marked the joining together of Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore to form Malaysia...

 form public holiday
Public holidays in Malaysia
There are two types of holidays in Malaysia, National and state levels. National holidays are normally observed by most governmental and private organizations. State holidays are normally observed by certain states in Malaysia or when it is relevant to the state itself.In addition, Government...

. On radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...

 and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...

 stations, the anthem is played at least twice a day, at sign-on and sign-off.

Playing full or Royal version of the anthem

According to the National Anthem Act 1968, the full or Royal version of the National Anthem shall be played on the following occasions:
  • when a salute is given for His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
    Yang di-Pertuan Agong
    The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence....

    , or his deputy while exercising the functions of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or a Ruler nominated to exercise the functions of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in accordance with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Exercise of Functions) Act 1957, or when the royal standard is broken to symbolize the presence of His Majesty;
  • during official parades or other official ceremonial functions;
  • on all occasions when His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is present in person (including broadcasts by His Majesty);
  • when the flag of Malaysia is brought on parades;
  • when regimental colours are presented; and
  • for hoisting of the colours in the Navy.


The full or Royal version of the National Anthem may be played in schools for the purpose of teaching pupils thereof to sing the National Anthem. The full or Royal version of the National Anthem shall be played on any other occasion as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may by order prescribe.

Playing abridged version of the anthem

The abridged version shall be played as a salute on all official occasions for Her Majesty the Raja Permaisuri Agong
Raja Permaisuri Agong
Raja Permaisuri Agong, or in full, Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong, is the title given to the Queen of Malaysia, consort of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.The holders of this office have been:...

 and Their Excellencies the Yang di-Pertua Negeri
Yang di-Pertua Negeri
The Yang di-Pertua Negeri is the official title of the ceremonial heads of state of the Malaysian states without hereditary rulers, namely Penang, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak...

 of Malacca, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak. The abridged version of the National Anthem shall be played on any other occasion as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may by order prescribe.

Playing short version of the anthem

On any official occasion when His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or his representative is not present but one of Their Royal Highnesses the Rulers of the States is present, the short version shall be played at the conclusion of the occasion immediately after the relevant State Anthem has been played.

Playing on special occasions

At all official receptions to foreign dignitaries at which the salute is given the full or Royal version of the National Anthem shall be played immediately after the Anthem of the country of the
visiting dignitary has been played.

At all official occasions arranged by foreign Missions in Malaysia for celebrating their National Days or other National occasions the full or Royal version of the National Anthem shall be played immediately after the Anthem of the country of the foreign Mission has been played.

Mark of respect

Whenever the National Anthem is played or sung or whenever the abridged or short version is played all persons present shall stand to attention as a mark of respect except where the National
Anthem is played or sung in the course of a broadcast or news-reels as part of such broadcast or news-reels.

The failure to comply with Section 8 (1) of the Act without good and sufficient cause and any act or omission which would tend to lower the prestige of the National Anthem in the eyes of the public shall constitute a show of disrespect.

Any person who knowingly shows disrespect towards the National Anthem in any public place shall be liable to a fine not exceeding MYR
Myr
The symbol myr was formerly used in English-language geology, and remains as the standard usage in astronomy, as a unit of one million years.It is an abbreviation for 'million years' and lower case is used in geology, while upper case is used in astronomy....

100 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month.

Other


External links

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