Veteran singer Noraniza Idris is setting the record straight after facing a new wave of criticism over her “Qalam” concert poster. Previously, the singer had been under fire for her concert ticket prices, but now she’s tackling a fresh issue: some netizens mistakenly thought the poster was meant to celebrate Chinese New Year.
The songstress quickly cleared things up and explained the real cultural significance behind her poster. According to mStar Online, Noraniza expressed her surprise at the mix-up during a TikTok livestream, saying, “Because of Melaka! Melaka people wear ‘sanggul lintang’, don’t you know?” She explained that the traditional attire in the poster honours Melaka’s culture, not the Chinese New Year.
She also addressed comments about the hand position in the poster, pointing out, “I really can’t believe when someone thinks like that when my hand is clearly holding a Malay ‘keris’. Look at the poster carefully, of course, it has Chinese influence but it’s because Melaka is widely influenced by the Chinese. For example Dondang Sayang, Baba Nyonya. The same is the case with buildings in Melaka. Fans should understand and study their history.”
That’s not all, in an Instagram post from the same livestream, the singer took the opportunity to educate her followers about Melaka’s rich history, emphasising that the state’s culture is a blend of influences, including significant Chinese contributions. With the “Qalam Concert” coming up, Noraniza hopes people will appreciate the cultural heritage of Melaka rather than jump to conclusions.
Watch the full video here:
Sources: Instagram, mStar Online
Melissa Royan contributed to this article.
