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Daily Express

First statewide song contest aimed at unity

Published on: Wednesday, July 02, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 02, 2025 Text Size: The organisers in a group photo with award recipients and guest of honour. Kota Kinabalu: More than 300 people gathered at the JKKN Auditorium, last Saturday, for the grand finale of Sabah's first Statewide multicultural song writing competition, marking a significant milestone in the state's efforts to promote unity through the arts. The Lagu Kita Grand Finals Concert featured seven finalist bands competing across student and open categories, with performances that showcased original compositions celebrating Sabah's diverse cultural heritage. National Unity Minister, Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, who was guest of honour, praised the initiative as embodying Malaysia's multicultural spirit. 'Music speaks when words fail. It transcends boundaries, connects people and tonight we witness music doing what it does best – bringing us together,' he told the young performers. The Ministry of National Unity supported the competition with a RM30,000 grant, recognising its potential to foster understanding among communities through creative expression. In the student category, SIA Borneo Band claimed the championship with 'Tokou', a stirring composition that blended Kadazandusun, Iban, Chinese and other cultural influences. The winning band received RM5,000 cash prize plus professional recording and music video production. Sirens took first runner-up with their multilingual unity anthem 'Satu Hati, One Nation' while Jasper ft. Kill The Aries secured second runner-up with the romantic song 'Kita.' The open category was won by Jazzeltone Mountain for their vibrant performance of 'Sabahku Warna Warni' earning them RM10,000 and a complete recording package. Symphony of Bayuz placed first runner-up with 'Semuanya Ada di Sabah', a Bossa Nova-inspired tribute to the State. The evening featured guest performances highlighting cross-cultural collaboration, including Rimba Irama, which combined the Chinese Huayue Orchestra with UMS' Sompotune Ethnic Ensemble. Acoustic duo Sanod Sundatang blended modern guitar with traditional Sabahan sundatang, while renowned vocalist Velvet Aduk performed in indigenous languages. The event was jointly organised by the Sabah Unity in Diversity Community Partners (SUIDCP) and Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu, with support from the Society of Performing Arts Kota Kinabalu and Yayasan Kelab-Kelab Rotary Malaysia. Organising Chairman Lim Hock Song described the concert as a humble but significant step toward using music to inspire shared national identity, expressing hope it would spark a new wave of unity through music and the arts. The competition also featured a traditional costume contest, adding festive cultural elements to the celebration of Sabah's multicultural harmony. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia