For subscribers
Cherishing my Singapore childhood: Lessons from Semoga Bahagia
Singapore has always stressed the concept of happiness. May our children find joy in their childhood journey.
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
As we celebrate Children’s Day, let us remember the words of Zubir Said and strive to create a world where all children can have a chance to grow up happy, healthy and fulfilled.
ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Yeo Whee Jim
Follow topic:
I recently watched Don’t Call Him Mr. Mari Kita, a musical production staged by local theatre company Wild Rice. I was struck by the profound wisdom of Zubir Said’s music, especially in the lyrics of Semoga Bahagia, which I believe is still sung in all our primary schools on Children’s Day in October. The song’s exhortations to work together, to have a kind and open heart, and to respect one another and therefore our different customs resonated with me.
During the show, as accompanying English translations flashed across a screen, I quietly mouthed the Malay lyrics, perhaps grasping their full meaning for the very first time.
