More than a haircut: Meet the Rembau barber who sings P. Ramlee songs flawlessly

Sinar Daily

2 days ago

You might assume the singer is Malay, but in Rembau, that voice belongs to Ng Kim Soy, an 81-year-old Chinese barber who not only sings but has also memorised almost all of the legendary artiste's songs.
Even at 81, Ng Kim Soy still skillfully cuts hair for his customers, fulfilling special requests at his "P. Ramlee Barbershop" in Rembau.
REMBAU – Close your eyes and listen to the familiar strains of a Tan Sri P. Ramlee classic sung with perfect pronunciation.
You might assume the singer is Malay, but in Rembau, that voice belongs to Ng Kim Soy, an 81-year-old Chinese barber who not only sings but has also memorised almost all of the legendary artiste's songs. Ng Kim Soy reminisces, holding a photo of himself singing at an event during his younger days, a testament to his lifelong passion for music.
In fact, his barbershop on Jalan Dato Undang in the town of Rembau has been nicknamed the "P. Ramlee Barbershop" by locals due to his deep admiration for the legend, who passed away 52 years ago.
At times, he even entertains customers with renditions of P. Ramlee songs while they get their haircut, especially "Jangan Tinggal Daku" and "Bunyi Gitar."
'As far as I remember, I developed an interest in P. Ramlee's songs when I was 16, because I would often hear them played at wedding feasts in the village and I lived among the Malay community. Ng Kim Soy reminisces, holding a photo of himself singing at an event during his younger days, a testament to his lifelong passion for music.
'Eventually, the songs stuck in my head and I have managed to memorise 20 of them to this day," he told Sinar.
According to the father of three, it wasn't difficult to remember the lyrics because the melodies were pleasant and easy on the ears.
Kim Soy said that unlike many songs today, which tend to have high notes and are harder to follow, P. Ramlee's music was more accessible.
'In the past, we needed vinyl records to listen to songs, but now it's easy; everything is on the internet,' he said.
Recalling fond memories, he said he once received an invitation to sing in front of the 10th Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, the late Tuanku Ja'afar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, at an event.
Kim Soy said that moment was the greatest honour of his life and one he would always cherish.
'To me, P. Ramlee's songs are simple, but his silky smooth voice and vocal nuance were priceless. You can't find that in any singer today. Apart from his songs, I also enjoy watching all of his films,' he said. Even at 81, Ng Kim Soy still skillfully cuts hair for his customers, fulfilling special requests at his "P. Ramlee Barbershop" in Rembau.
He shared that he is frequently asked by friends to sing at wedding receptions.
'Many people think I'm Malay when they hear me sing. I often joke that I'm Malay, just not Muslim,' he said.
When asked about his profession as a barber, Kim Soy said he began cutting hair at the age of 17, a trade that is now carried on by his three sons.
However, he stated that most of the work is now handled by his children, except when there are special requests from customers.
'My eldest son, now 40, has taken over the Rembau shop. My second son, who is 39, runs his own shop in Senawang, while the youngest is in Sarawak.
"Among my three sons, only the second one shares my love for P. Ramlee's songs,' said Kim Soy, who opens his shop daily from 10am to 6pm.