THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

The National Anthem not only serves to arouse the spirit of patriotism, but also symbolizes the socio-culture and expresses the aspiration of the particular nation. The National Anthem of Malaysia is entitled Negaraku. The lyrics of Negaraku urge the people of various races, religions and cultures to live harmoniously in their pursuit of progress in all fields. By the grace of God it hopes that the king, the people and the beloved country will be blessed with peace and prosperity. The Negaraku was first played and sung in the moderato tempo as in the case of other national anthems. However, in line with the development of the country’s socio-economy, the government, in conjunction with the celebration of the National Day in 1993, changed in to a March tempo which is faster and more spirited. Malaysians who love their country and king should know more about Negaraku so as to be more patriotic.

• The History of the National Anthem
  
• The Selection of the Song for Negaraku
  
• The Rules on Playing Negaraku
  
• Full Version or Royal Version
  
• The Abridged Version
  
• The Short Version
  
• To Play National and State Anthems
  
• Respecting Negaraku
  
• The Musical Notes of Negaraku
  
• The lyrics of Negaraku

HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

According to records there are two sources relating to the origin of the National Anthem before the song Negaraku became the National Anthem of Malaysia. The same tune was once the State Anthem of Perak and it was also the tune of a very popular contemporary song entitled Terang Bulan. According to Tuan Haji Mustapha Albakri, the tune was used as the Perak State anthem for the first time in England in 1901 during the installation of King Edward VII.

Sultan Idris Murshidul’adzam Shah was the Ruler of the State of Perak from 1887 to 1916. He represented the Malay Rulers of the Federated Malay States at the installation ceremony of King Eward VII in 1901. When the ship carrying His Royal Highness docked at the Southampton Port, a protocol officer from the Colonial Office boarded the ship to enquire about the Perak State anthem. It was a practice in those days, to play the state or national anthem of the visiting head of state or king on his arrival in England.

At that time Perak did not have a State anthem. It so happened that Raja Harun bin Sultan Abdullah, the private secretary to the Sultan, was himself a musician. Although Perak did not have a State anthem, Raja Harun refused to admit it. He told the protocol officer that Perak had its State anthem, but the music sheets were not brought along. Nevertheless, he said that he could play the song without looking at the notes.

After hearing the explanation, the protocol officer allowed Raja Harun to proceed. The tune that he played was actually Terang Bulan. So Terang Bulan was played for the first time on English soil in 1901. Since then, the tune was adopted as the Perak State anthem until it became the tune for the National Anthem.

Another story about the origin of Negaraku was related by Raja Kamarulzaman, son of Raja Mansur who used to serve as aide-de-camp to Sultan Idris. According to him, Terang Bulan was first used as the tune for the Perak State anthem when Sultan Idris visited London in 1888, one year after he was installed as Sultan. His visit to London was in conjunction with the Coronation of Queen Victoria in 1888. Upon the arrival of the royal entourage in London, a representative of Queen Victoria asked Raja Mansur, the aide-de- camp of Sultan Idris, for the note of the Perak State anthem. Protocol required that the Perak State anthem be played as the Sultan walked into the coronation hall. To avoid embarrassment, the quick-witted Raja Mansur told the representative of the Queen that the music sheets for the State anthem had been left behind. However, if the officer could get a musician, Raja Mansur said he could whistle the tune for the musician to write the notes. When a musician was brought forth, Raja Mansur whistled the song that was very popular among the Perak people at that time. So the Perak State anthem was officially played for the first time during the coronation of Queen Victoria in London. And it was actually the tune of Terang Bulan.

Tuan Haji Mubin Sheppard who was at one time the Director of the National Archives had done a research on the origin of Negaraku. His sources were two sisters, Raja Aminah and Raja Halijah, the daughters of Sultan Abdullah and also Raja Kamarulzaman. According to these sisters, the first time they heard the tune, now known as that of Negaraku, was in Mahe, one of the Seychelles islands, where their father, the former Sultan of Perak, lived in exile. They said the song was very popular there and very often played by a French band which usually played a variety of songs and held concerts for the people of that island. It was believed that the melody of the song was composed by a French musician named Pierre Jean de Beranger who was born in France in 1780 and died in 1857.

According to Raja Kamarulzaman’s story, the song was introduced by an opera group from Indonesia during a show in Singapore. Over a short span of time the song became very popular in Singapore and was given the name Terang Bulan. Even after the song had become the tune for the Perak State anthem, it was still played at social functions. It remained as such until it became the tune for the Malaysian National anthem named Negaraku.

SELECTION OF SONG FOR NEGARAKU

In 1956, all the states already had their own anthem. However, a song that could be made a national anthem had yet to be identified. As Malaya was poised for independence at the time, it was thought appropriate that the country should be ready with its own national anthem. Tunku Abdul Rahman, who was the Chief Minister and Minister of Interior Affairs of Malaya, decided that a national anthem be composed before the Independence Day. Hence a committee was formed to select a song as the national anthem for the soon-to-be independent Malaya.

Tunku Abdul Rahman suggested that a competition be held for composing the National Anthem. The Tunku’s suggestion was agreed to and implemented. The competition which was not restricted to Malayan composers but open to composers throughout the world, resulted in 514 songs compositions. A committee was formed to analyze all the songs and select the most suitable one. The committee consisted of:

Chairman :	1.	Y.T.M. Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Alhaj
Members :	2.	Tuan Haji Mustafa Albakri, Penyimpan Mohor Besar Raja-Raja Melayu mewakili Raja-Raja.
	3.	Dato’ Abdul Razak Hussein, Menteri Pelajaran.
	4.	Encik Ya’akob Latiff, Pengarah Penerangan.
	5.	Encik D.S.P. Croft, Pengarah Muzik, Band Polis Persekutuan.
	6.	Kapt. Lenthall, Pangarah Muzik, Askar Melayu.
	7.	Encik A.T. Read, Pengarah Penyiaran Radio.

The committee members were diligent in their task. They examined each of the 514 songs that were submitted but found none suitable for the national anthem. It then decided to invite selected renowned composers as another option in their search for a suitable song. A few songwriters of international repute were specially invited to compose the national anthem. They were:

(a) Benjamin Britten,
(b) Sir William Walton,
(c) Carlo Manetti, and
(d) Zubir Said.

They composed a number of songs which were considered by a special panel of judges. The panel conceded that all the songs were of a high standard but none was suitable as a national anthem.

Despite the song-writing competition and the competitions from renowned song writers, a suitable song was yet to be found. This prompted the committee to consider the existing State anthems, with the hope of coming up with the right tune. The Perak State anthem was found to be the most suitable and was then selected as the tune national anthem of independent Malaya and later of Malaysia. A panel of judges wrote the lyrics for the national anthem with Y.T.M Tunku Abdul Rahman playing a significant role.

RULES TO PLAY NEGARAKU

The rules on how Negaraku is to be played are described in the National Anthem Act, 1968. According to the Act, the National Anthem consists of three versions as follows:

• the Full Version or the Royal Version of the National Anthem
• the Abridged Version of the National Anthem comprising the first eight lines and the last eight lines
• the Short Version comprising the last eight lines.

THE FULL VERSION

The Full Version is to be played or sung on the following occasions:

• to show respect to His Majesty Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
• to show respect to the Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong when he exercises the functions of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
• to show respect to a Ruler delegated to exercise the functions of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in accordance with the “Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Exercise of Functions) Ordinance 1957.”
• when the royal flag is raised to signify the presence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
• on all occasions when His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is present.
• in schools for the purpose of teaching the pupils to sing the National Anthem.
• on other occasions as determined by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
• on all occasions when the National Anthem is sung.
• in welcoming foreign dignitaries, the Full Version must be played immediately after the national anthem of the visiting dignitary. The foreign dignitaries referred to here are the heads of state or the heads of government. At all official functions held by foreign dignitaries in Malaysia to commemorate their national day or other national events, the Full Version must be played directly after their national anthem. The foreign dignitaries referred to here are the High Commissioners or the Ambassadors.

THE ABRIDGED VERSION

In the Abridged Version, the bar contains the first eight lives and the last eight lives leaving out the verse between verses A and B. The Abridged Version is played during official ceremonies to honour:

• Her Majesty the Raja Permaisuri Agong
• Their Excellencies Yang Dipertua-Yang Dipertua Negeri of Melaka, Pulau Pinang, Sarawak and Sabah.
• The official representative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong when His Majesty is represented by one of the Malay Rulers. On such occasions, the state anthem of His Royal Highness must be played in full first followed by the Abridged Version of the National Anthem.
• Diplomats representing His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong outside the country.
• the occasion of thanksgiving toast in honour of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, with the accompaniment of music.
• Any other occasion which has been determined with the command of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

THE SHORT VERSION

The Short Version consists of the last 8 lines. It is played:

• at any official function when His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or his representative is not present but one of the Malay Rulers is present. The Short Version is to be played at the end of the function just after the state anthem of His Royal Highness.
• at the end of any show such as a film or at the end of the television programme for the day.

PLAYING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND THE STATE ANTHEM

In any function at the Federal level, if His Majesty Yang di-Pertuan Agong or his representative is not present, but one of the Malay Rulers is, the Abridged Version of the National Anthem has to be played at the end of the function after the State anthem of His Royal Highness.

SHOWING RESPECT FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

• When any version of the National Anthem is played or sung, all present must stand up as a sign of respect.
• If the National Anthem is broadcast, such show of respect for the anthem is not expected.
• Anybody who deliberately does not show respect for the National Anthem at any public place may be fined not more than one hundred ringgit or imprisoned for not more than one month.
• Any act which appears to belittle the National Anthem in the eyes of the public, is considered as not respecting the National Anthem. The Police officers are empowered to arrest without warrant anybody found to be disrespectful towards the National Anthem.

NEGARAKU (NOTE)