Did you know that Malaysia's national anthem, Negaraku, derives its melody from the state anthem of Perak? However, that regional tune traces its origin back even further to a nineteenth-century French melody.
Sultan Abdullah of Perak first heard the French song, La Rosalie, while living in exile in the Seychelles during the 1870s. His royal family loved the catchy rhythm and introduced it to Malaya as a popular folk song named Terang Bulan.
Perak later adopted this beloved melody as its official state anthem, titled Allah Lanjutkan Usia Sultan. Chief Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman selected this Perak anthem in 1957 to serve as the foundation for the national song.
Saiful Bahri wrote the inspiring Malay lyrics under the guidance of national leaders ahead of Independence Day. The anthem debuted at midnight on August 31, 1957, as Malaya raised its new flag at Dataran Merdeka.
From France to the Royal Court of Perak
French composer Pierre-Jean de Béranger composed the melody of La Rosalie during the nineteenth century. French military bands played the tune frequently on the island of Mahé in the Seychelles.
British authorities exiled Sultan Abdullah of Perak to the Seychelles in 1877 following political disputes in Malaya. His children fell in love with the melody and brought the music back home to the Malay Peninsula.
Local musicians quickly turned the foreign tune into a widely popular folk song called Terang Bulan. The song became a staple in theatrical performances, cabarets, and social gatherings across the region.
The catchy melody spread across global music genres long before becoming a sacred national symbol. International musicians recorded versions with Hawaiian guitars, Cantonese love songs, and even Dutch ballads.
Sultan Idris of Perak unexpectedly created the royal state anthem while attending a celebration in London. Having no official state anthem prepared, his delegation hummed the tune of Terang Bulan on the spot so his state would not appear backward to foreign hosts, and Perak officially adopted the melody as its royal anthem under the name Allah Lanjutkan Usia Sultan.
Selecting the Anthem
Malayan leaders prepared for independence in 1957 without an official national anthem. Tunku Abdul Rahman formed a national committee and launched a worldwide contest that drew over five hundred entries.
Judges rejected all contest submissions because none captured the proper national spirit. The committee then invited renowned international composers like Benjamin Britten and William Walton to write a song.
Malayan officials rejected these foreign compositions and decided to evaluate existing state anthems instead. Tunku Abdul Rahman recommended the Perak state anthem on August 5, 1957, praising its traditional melody.
Songwriter Saiful Bahri drafted the unifying lyrics that emphasize togetherness and loyalty to the King. The official choir performed Negaraku for the first time as the nation declared independence on August 31, 1957.
Moreover, government authorities strictly protected the anthem after independence by banning cabaret performances of Terang Bulan. This legal restriction ensured that citizens treated the melody with the respect due to a national symbol.
Officials attempted to speed up the tempo in 1992 and suggested renaming the anthem in 2003. Strong public protests forced the government to restore the original grand arrangement.
Today, Negaraku stands as a powerful symbol that binds diverse communities together.
