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By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, July 22: Indonesian rock band Ungu will perform 10 songs for Konsert Rakyat in conjunction with the 60th Anniversary of Sarawak’s Independence celebration at Padang Merdeka here tonight.
Lead vocalist Pasha or his full name, Sigit Purnomo Syamsuddin Said, said the band might even consider singing more songs than they planned to entertain their fans in Sarawak.
“To be honest, the songs that we will play are based on a survey done through a local radio station on the songs that Ungu should play in Sarawak.
“For example, some requested ‘Kekasih Gelapku’; some requested ‘Cinta Dalam Hati’; some are also rooting for ‘Hampa Hatiku’, ‘Percaya Padaku’ and ‘Demi Waktu’. All these are based on the requests of our fans in Sarawak.
“However, if many are ‘happy’ later tonight, we will play more than ten songs,” he said in an interview held at the official residence of the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) here today.
On behalf of the band, Pasha also expressed gratitude towards the Sarawak government for allowing them to perform in Kuching again after their first performance in 2016.
“We have been waiting so long to be back after our experience in Sarawak seven years ago because the reception from Sarawak fans at the time was extraordinary.
“This explains why we have been yearning to return to Sarawak to pay for longings held back for seven years.
“We hope Sarawakians can gather with us tonight and sing songs, especially ‘Kekasih Gelapku’ together,” he added.
Formed in Jakarta in 1996, Ungu band presently comprises Pasha, Franco “Enda” Medjaya (guitar/vocal), Arlonsy “Onci” Miraldi (guitar/vocal), Makki O. Parikesit (bass), and M. Nur “Rowman” Rohman (drums).
The band has been flown from Jakarta, Indonesia, by the Sarawak government through Sarawak Arts Council (SAC) to perform at Konsert Rakyat tonight together with local artistes, including legendary rockstar Dato Awie of Wings band, rapper Joe Flizzow, girl group Dolla, and Floor 88 band.
Earlier, Ungu had joined a lunch hosted by the Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuching Raden Sigit Witjaksono and his wife, Lucy Octavia.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (Creative Industry and Performing Arts) Datuk Snowdan Lawan and wife Datin Melinda Claudia Bucking-Lawan; Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (Tourism) Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew; Mafrica Corporation Sdn Bhd general manager Dato Thomas Tieng Mee Tung; and SAC chief executive officer Dayang Mariana Abang Bolhassan. — DayakDaily
