Razali made Sabahans proud!!!

RAZALI... latest Sabahan Hero

KOTA KINABALU: Sabahan Razali Abd Rahman won the finals of the national-level Bakat TV, a talent show modelled after America Got Talent, organised by RTM at Angkasapuri in Kuala Lumpur, last Tuesday (July 19, 2011).

Razali, 26, stole the hearts of the judges by playing solo on the Kulintangan, a set of traditional musical instruments consisting of about ten small gongs made of bronze. He beat seven other finalists from all over Malaysia to bring home RM20,000, a trophy, a certificate and Figos products.

But not only did he win the judges’ hearts, he blew the audience away too by winning the Most Popular Talent Award with the prize money of RM10,000 - bringing his total winnings to RM30,000.

The second place with the prize money of RM15,000 went to vocal group Putera while a dance troupe from Negeri Sembilan took home the third prize of RM10,000.

This is not the first win for Razali for playing the Kulintangan. In 2010, he won the WCOPA Road to Hollywood contest in Los Angeles, USA. More recently, he also won a prize at the World Rainforest Music Festival in Kuching, Sarawak.

"It does not really matter to me whether I win the Bakat TV or not. What is more important to me is the fact that I am able to popularise the Kulintangan to the rest of Malaysia or for that matter the world, " he stated.

Razali, a Bisaya from Beaufort, thanked Beaufort MP Datuk Lajim Ukin who is the Bisayas’ Janang Gayuh (the equivalent of the Kadazan Huguan Siou) for his encouragement. He also expressed his appreciation to Klias Assemblywoman Datuk Ajizah Dun for her assistance.

"With the prize money, I intend to produce a new set of Kulintangan to enable youngsters in Sabah to learn this traditional musical instrument, " he said, adding that a set would cost up to RM5,000, be it made up of steel or bronze.

Razali, who has just completed his Music Diploma course at the Arts and Heritage Academy (Aswara) in Kuala Lumpur also intends to use the prize money to continue his education to degree level.

"I also intend to produce an album using traditional musical instruments including the Kulintangan," said Razali who has been playing the Kulintangan since the age of ten.

The set of Kulintangan he used in the competition was made by himself in 1998. He said he is determined to introduce the Kulintangan to the world as the instrument is not as well known as the Gambus or Accordion for example.

"If given a chance, I would also like to accompany Datuk Siti Nurhaliza especially when she sings Irama Malaysia tunes," added Razali who has been playing the Kulintangan to the tunes of Nirmala and Kunik Kundi, both sung by the No. 1 national songstress.

The Kulintangan is popular among most of Sabah’s indigenous communities including the Bajaus, the Kadazans, the Dusuns, the Tatana of Kuala Penyu and of course the Bisayas.

Razali’s victory comes in the footsteps of other Sabahan winners of national-level contests in recent years, among them Reynaldo Pagie or better known as Rey (Bintang RTM 2007), Stacy Anam (Akademi Fantasia), and Ayu Damit (One in a Million). More recently, a Sabahan siblings couple won another national-level contest - the Mari Menari or Let’s Dance by Astro.