Dataran putrajaya: The energetic drumming of five rebana ubi will not only enliven the 2026 National Day celebrations but also symbolise the five principles of the Rukun Negara as the foundation of unity and national identity among Malaysians.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the five traditional rebana ubi drums will be among the highlights of the Gema Inovasi MADANI segment at the 2026 National Day celebrations at Dataran Putrajaya tomorrow, carrying the theme "Malaysia MADANI: Kesejahteraan Dinikmati." Gema Inovasi MADANI Drumming Segment Chief Coordinator Mohammad Husri Morni, 50, said the second principle of the Rukun Negara, namely Loyalty to King and Country, was adopted as the basis for the concept and arrangement of the performance.
"The five traditional rebana ubi drums symbolise the five principles of the Rukun Negara, while the gongs on the left and right represent Sabah and Sarawak. The combination of musical instruments from the Peninsula is placed in the centre," he said when met during a rehearsal for the celebrations here.
He, who is more popularly known as Dr Yun, said the performance would also be enlivened by the participation of 700 kompang players who would heighten the spirit of unity and love for the Rukun Negara. Mohammad Husri said the segment brought together about 150 musicians from various communities, including rebana ubi, thavil, 24 Seasons drums, gendang pampat, gongs and kulintangan.
He said the combination of musical instruments from various traditions was chosen to translate the message of unity and harmony in a plural society through a different approach. "If previously unity was often presented through dance performances, this time we want to highlight musical instruments as a symbol of the unity of Malaysian society. Each instrument has its own identity and sound, but all can be combined into one rhythm," he said.
Mohammad Husri said the main challenge was to synchronise the different tempos and characteristics of each musical instrument without losing their original identities. He said a National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (ASWARA) lecturer acted as the music coordinator to help standardise the drumming. "The thavil drumming is quite fast, while the rebana ubi is slower. However, the basic rhythm allows all the musical instruments to be combined and produce Gema Inovasi," he said.
He said rehearsals began in July involving students from higher education institutions and members of non-governmental organisations through a trainer-of-trainers approach and video guidance before joint rehearsals were held in mid-August. Meanwhile, the segment's choreographer Mohd Hanafi Rosdi said the drumming was not merely about producing rhythm, but became the "voice" of various communities when 150 percussionists comprising Malays, Chinese and Indians as well as representatives from Sabah and Sarawak came together in a choreography combining music, dance movements and formations.
He said each musical instrument carried the identity, symbolism and spirit of its respective community before all were united into one Malaysian rhythm. "The drums have a very strong aura through their sound and spirit. Each community has its own drum sound and meaning. When all the sounds are combined, they represent the voice of various communities living together as Malaysians," he said.
Mohd Hanafi said the 24 Seasons drums, for example, not only reflected the culture of the Chinese community, but their drumming also conveyed the spirit of unity and togetherness among the people. According to him, the uniqueness of this year's performance could be seen through the way traditional musical instruments were combined with body movements that required synchronisation, energy and high concentration from every player.
"The audience will not merely hear the sound of the drums. They will see the movements, synchronisation, energy and focus of the players in conveying the story of the performance. A combination like this has never been presented before, which is why I believe Gema Inovasi MADANI will be among the segments that people look forward to," he said.
As the opening performance, Mohd Hanafi said the segment carried an important task of generating energy and building momentum for the overall celebrations. "When we start with the drums, the energy from the first beat needs to be carried and maintained until the end of the event," he said.