Compiled by TRACY GUNAPALAN, C. ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHAN

SINGER Datuk Aishah is grateful that her song Pulanglah continues to be a timeless hit during Hari Raya Aidilfitri season, Harian Metro reported.

Despite its good melody, steady vocals and touching lyrics, she said the song became a classic, partially, by chance.

Reflecting on her collaboration with the late Adam Ahmad, she said songs that last through the years required harmony between songwriter, lyricist and singer.

“Sometimes if we are lucky enough to get a solid combination, it can touch listeners’ hearts,” she said.

The 60-year-old singer shared that she was initially approached by her recording company to do a cover of another popular Hari Raya song at the time.

“I said I wanted to make a new Hari Raya song and I didn’t want to do a ‘cover’ because there were so many people doing them at that time.

“I wanted to make my own Hari Raya song alongside Adam Ahmad. The result was two hit songs, Pulanglah and Setitis Cahaya Di Aidilfitri,” she said.

> Despite her husband’s passing, singer Ieda Zikir is committed to ensuring her children continue to experience the festive atmosphere of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Kosmo! reported.

Although she struggles with her loss at this time of year, she fondly recalls her husband Majed Salleh’s taking the family to visit lively locations around the city.

“I miss him taking our family to Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman to feel the spirit of Hari Raya. Even if he was tired, he was always willing to go,” she said.

“What I want to do the most is to make the children happy,” she added.

The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a, it denotes a separate news item.