TheStar: "How did Negaraku go from a love song to our national anthem?"

Part of the cast and crew of Malam Terang Bulan (from left) MeiLin Hii, conductor Ahmad Muriz Che Rose, Dayang Nurfaizah, Saidah Rastam, Zahim Albakri, Zamzuriah Zahari and Chacko Vadaketh.

“It’s every stage director’s greatest nightmare. You finish your show, and you get no applause.

Yet this was the predicament faced by Datin Saidah Rastam after her show, Malam Terang Bulan, premiered at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas in Kuala Lumpur last year. The concert, created and directed by her, was the story of our national anthem, Negaraku.”