Tun Abdul Razak Musical
19 August 2009
Istana Budaya

By Teh Jun Min

The orchestra dies down and the gauze curtain lifts to reveal a troupe of Malay dancers and singers representing the 70s. An energetic performance of pink sequins, gay dancing and merry making was abruptly interrupted by Wan Rakyat (Shahrul Mizad Ashari) announcing the passing of one of Malaysia’s finest heroes – Allahyarham Tun Abdul Razak.  “Dia adalah Wira Malaysia!” (He is Malaysia’s hero!) echoed in the theatre as the ensemble ended the first set. 

A similarly heavy tone resounded years later “Kerja berat ni” when Dato Rahim Razali took on the responsibility of creating Tun Abdul Razak the musical. As Tun Abdul Razak rose to the occasion in spearheading Malaysia to what she is today, so did Dato Rahim Razali working together with Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan (ASWARA) to put together a world-class musical and a strong team of over 200 in such a short period of time. Joining him in his dream was long time actor Rashibi Ishak who is debuting in his first theatrical production as Tun Abdul Razak.  

 The musical starts off from the opening act as Wan Rakyat takes us on a journey down memory lane back to the year 1947 where Tun Abdul Razak first arrives in Lincoln Inn, England. Against the backdrop of white marble pillars and graceful dancers waltzing to a string quartet, Tun Abdul Razak strides in and partakes of the dance floor.  Here he encounters the arrogance of the locals and makes a fast friend of Taip Andak.

Sharul did a splendid job in walking us through the life of Tun Abdul Razak, from the Independence of Malaya, to the Malaysia-Indonesia confrontation, even into the sensitive era of May 13. Gracefully he guides us through the birth of MAGERAN into the inner conflicts of Tun’s heart and private life. Applause too must be given to Rashidi who carried Tun’s light spirit as a student and matured through the show, shouldering the heavy mantle of Tun’s decision to continue on as the Second Prime Minister of Malaysia in spite of his personal health. The struggles and personal conflicts of Tun Abdul Razak as well as Tun Dr Ismail (Rime Nazri) clutches at our hearts. Would we too, in their shoes have made such huge sacrifices of self and family for the future of our country? These were indeed great men who chose a shorter but much more meaningful path in life.   

On the overall, the music was nice although it would have been interesting to feature more local songs from the era or better yet, adaptations of local Malaysian songs. Nonetheless, the musical was a fitting tribute, one which the audience certainly enjoyed. Interestingly enough, as well as Rashidi manages the heavy parts, the scene stealers of the show were undoubtedly Fauziah Latif who gave a touching portrayal of the Prime Minister’s wife who supported her husband unquestioningly despite the odds, and Syukor Ibrahim Bachik as our first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, who touches our hearts when he declared his faith and support to Tun as he passed over the baton to him. Despite just having one scene, he certainly left a lasting impression with the right mannerisms and characterization. Another outstanding performance was a guest appearance by Syafinaz Selamat in a haunting operatic style tribute to the victims of May 13.

Tun Abdul Razak the Musical, was artfully produced with rich tapestries and noteworthy choreography. Innovative placement of certain members of the orchestra gave a strong stereo effect to the music, engaging the audience in the spell of the song. Commendable applause must be given to the children’s ensemble, who showed maturity and professionalism in spite of their ages, especially to toddler Asyraaf Daniel Alhilmi who gave a beautiful performance as Tun’s first born son, Nazir.