Seremban: Being entrusted for three consecutive years to compose the official theme song for National Day and Malaysia Day has cemented Affan Mazlan's reputation as one of the country's leading young composers in instilling patriotism and love for the nation through music. The 25-year-old said that composing the theme song since 2023 has deepened his appreciation for unity and Malaysia's rich cultural heritage, while strengthening his sense of nationalism.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Affan expressed his growing excitement each year, noting that his patriotic spirit intensifies with every song. He hopes that Malaysians share this sentiment and celebrate National Day with a renewed love for their country. The theme song, titled 'Malaysia MADANI: Rakyat Disantuni', was officially introduced at the launch of the 2025 National Month and Fly the Jalur Gemilang campaign held at Dataran Tanjung Emas, Muar, on July 27. The song, performed by renowned singer Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza, calls on Malaysians to embrace the core values of Malaysia MADANI, focusing on development through humanity, social well-being, and justice.
The composition has received accolades from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, who both praised its catchy and melodious nature. This marks the third consecutive year that Affan has been tasked with composing the official National Day and Malaysia Day theme song, following his previous works, 'Tekad Perpaduan Penuhi Harapan' in 2023 and 'Malaysia MADANI: Jiwa Merdeka' in 2024.
For this year's composition, Affan adopted a unique approach by incorporating folk music and traditional elements from various ethnicities, diverging from the modern, corporate style of past years. He aimed to highlight unity through the inclusion of cultural elements such as the Malay caklempong, serunai, and inang; the Indian sitar; the Chinese dragon dance; and ethnic elements from Sabah and Sarawak, including the Iban and Kadazan communities.
Affan emphasized that his collaboration with the Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) team and music director Datuk Mokhzani Ismail over two months allowed him to delve into the cultures of different ethnic communities. This exploration, he noted, inadvertently nurtured his patriotic spirit. Condensing the diverse cultural elements into a three-minute song while maintaining a clear and accessible message of unity posed a significant challenge.
The song's chorus is notably unifying, while the verses and bridge arrange the cultural elements individually, allowing listeners to appreciate the uniqueness and diversity of Malaysia's culture. Affan highlighted the inclusion of 'rakyat-friendly' lyrics, which incorporate colloquial expressions and a dikir barat segment celebrating all cultures. He commended Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza for her soulful delivery of this segment.
Affan hopes that the song will inspire the younger generation to explore traditional music and appreciate Malaysia's artistic heritage, which he sees as a vital medium for expressing national spirit.