Promote Malay music on TV

Malay music, song and dance have been in existent in Sri Lanka for the past several years and have caught-up with our teenage set of music lovers and enthusiasts in a big way.

Rasa Sayang, Terang Bulan, Bengawan Solo etc., are some of the perennial favourites which are quite popular even to this day at most Malay Social functions and get-togethers.

With the passing away of Impresario Fareed Aniff, who had a repertoire of being one of the pioneers in the field of Malaysian Music Song and Dance strove relentlessly to enthrall, entertain and promote Malaysian music in Sri Lanka in his most inimitable style. His presentation of "Batik"- one of his many Malaysian Musical Shows, ran to packed houses at the Green House, Vihara Maha Devi Park during Showman Donovan Andree's era. It is a pity that so far there has not been a fitting successor amongst our Malay Community to take over from where he left.

Tony Jaffar, another leading Malay Artiste, a top class Electric Guitarist too is not amongst the living. Haroon Kumar Lanthara and Tony Hassan, two prominent vocalists and Rufin Saldin, a fine exponent of Malay Dance techniques could contribute immensely towards the enrichment and revival of Malaysian music in Sri Lanka.

In the good old days, Malay culture, traditions, music and dances were given much prominence on our air-waves. With the advent of T.V's. this privilege has been deprived to them and Malay Musical Programmes are now a rare treat.

Our T.V. Channels should seriously consider the possibility of sparing some of their time every month for the presentation of Malay Musical programmes.

In keeping with tradition "Sirasa" has always been "First" in all their efforts and I am sure in this instance too they could add another "First" to their cap, if they are really keen in serving the Sri Lankan Malays.