Popular radio announcer and actor Jack Lim and composer Lenny Ooi gathered 16 artistes to come up with Kita Di Sisimu
THE massive floods of December 2021, which ravaged parts of the country, especially the Klang Valley, greatly moved popular radio announcer and comedian Jack Lim of the Ah Beng film series fame.
No stranger to charitable endeavours, Lim, 46, decided to gather fellow artistes to record a special song to uplift the spirits of affected families, and encourage the volunteers who helped them.
Lim roped in 16 mostly Chinese language artistes to record Kita Di Sisimu or Together As One, a moving anthem in Mandarin, English and Malay, specially written and composed by his multi-talented friend Lenny Ooi, the star of films such as Mrs K and You Believe In Ghost.
The 16 artistes — Fuying & Sam, Henley Hii, Ribbon Ooi, Billy Ng, Juztin Tan, Yumi Wong, Puteri Lily Ayumi, Aki, Ky Tha, Emily Poon, Joey Kong, Nick Ooi, Regine Kok, Kask, Cindy Ooi and Sunshine Aileen Devi Eric — joined Lim and Ooi to record the song in Ooi’s studio over two days late last year.
REAL FOOTAGE
Kita Di Sisimu also has a music video featuring real life footage of volunteers in action around the country, as well as scenes of the singers recording it in the studio.
Besides the artistes, several volunteers also performed the song in the studio as well as their workplaces.
KELUARGA MALAYSIA
The song and video have the full support of the National Film Development Corporation (Finas), as it encourages Malaysians to come together in the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia to aid flood victims.
“Kita Di Sisimu encourages flood victims to be strong and resilient, and rebuild their lives with the help of good samaritans around the country,” said Lim at the launch of the song at Megastar Arena, Viva Shopping Centre, Jalan Loke Yew, Kuala Lumpur recently.
GOTONG-ROYONG
Ooi said: “It reminds them that after every storm comes a rainbow. It also encourages Malaysians to inculcate the spirit of volunteerism and care for the less fortunate, and if they are unable to give their time to such work it would be great to donate basic necessities as well as funds.”
Finas chairman Zakaria Abdul Hamid, who launched the song and video, said: “Voluntary work is a very Malaysian way of life, and is the modern culmination of the traditional spirit of gotong-royong.
“It is great that Malaysian artistes are taking a bold initiative to reach out to flood victims, by using their talent and influence as best as they can.”
CHALLENGES AND TRIALS
Zakaria added that Finas gave the singers its fullest support, and would help promote Kita Di Sisimu on the big and small screens.
“We believe that efforts like this boost the morale of the less fortunate. Entertainment motivates them to rise up again, and encourages them to be hopeful amidst life’s challenges and trials.
“It would be good for creative content producers to follow in the footsteps of these artistes in future,” he said.
RESCUE UNION
Kita Di Sisimu promotes the humanitarian work of charitable organisation Rescue Union, which has about 300 volunteers, including Lim, Ooi and other singers.
It is also supported by 30 non-governmental organisations and business associations.
HUMANITARIAN ANTHEMS
Ooi, who has been in the entertainment industry for two decades, said he decided to come up with Kita Di Sisimu as humanitarian anthems involving popular artistes greatly encourage the public to help the needy.
“In the 1980s, the songs Do They Know It’s Christmas? and We Are The World, involving recording artistes in the United Kingdom and the United States were hugely successful in raising funds for the people of Ethiopia, who were stricken by famine.
“And in 2004, Malaysian artistes also recorded a song in aid of victims of the massive tsunami that hit parts of the country and region.”
ALL RACES
“Learning from this, Jack (Lim) and I got together to rope in as many Malaysian artistes as we could, to sing a new anthem specially for flood victims,” he said.
“And both of us made sure it was a Keluarga Malaysia effort, with singers from around the country and from all races.”
LONGTIME PASSION
Kara King star Ribbon, 26, who volunteered to help flood victims in Bentong, Pahang, said humanitarian relief was one of her “longtime passions”.
“I am with the humanitarian relief organisation World Vision and we have helped people affected by an earthquake in Sichuan, China, a decade ago, among others,” she said.
“I am fortunate that I wasn’t affected by the flood, and that was reason enough for me to help victims who needed basic foodstuff. I joined a team from this organisation in Bentong, and successfully helped some 300 families there.”
TRAPPED IN HULU LANGAT
Recounting his experience in the flood, Lim said: “I was in Hulu Langat, hosting an Astro programme when it happened.
“We finished filming at 9pm, and it was raining cats and dogs. Shortly after, the workers told us that it had already started to flood. We were trapped there for about 10 hours, only being able to leave at around 7am the next day.”
Lim said he was no stranger to floods as during his childhood in Pasir Puteh, Ipoh, flash floods frequently occurred whenever the nearby Pinji River overflowed.
“Back then, it was still fun to play in the water because floodwaters were very clean. The same can’t be said of the water today…development has made it muddy and murky.”
FRONTLINER FILM
When asked about his coming film projects, Lim said that he was looking forward to the premiere of his Covid-19 film Juang, which boasts a star-studded cast.
“It is a beautiful and inspiring collection of stories about frontliners. I play a businessman who is among the first Malaysians to learn about the deadly pandemic,” said Lim, adding that Juang will be released on March 17.
AH BENG IS BACK
The film has five directors, 100 actors and three production companies namely Asia Tropical Films, Suhan Movies headed by Datuk Rosyam Nor, and Lim’s own company The Film Engine.
“I also have the Chinese New Year comedy drama Small Town Hero, and this will be followed by the latest
Ah Beng adventure, where I will reprise my role as the naive but resilient young man,” Lim said, adding that 2022 marked the 10th anniversary of the squeaky-voiced character.
(Source: https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2022/01/766792/showbiz-song-hope-flood-victims)