KUALA LUMPUR — Netizens appear to have been left stunned by DAP’s rendition of patriotic tune Setia in conjunction with upcoming Merdeka celebrations, with social media users expressing their amusement over the “cringe-worthy” attempt at fostering unity.
While politicians and their penchant to opt for music videos to woo the people is nothing new, the two-minute-and 20-second video, uploaded to Twitter by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh earlier today, seems to have tickled online audience.
“For those of us in DAP, loyalty to the king and our country is not just lyrics in a song, but we truly embody the values when carrying out our duties,” Yeoh said in her caption for the video, which appears to have been shot in a studio.
She also joked that Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan has been awarded “highest points” for his intense and emotional performance, as depicted in the clip.
Commenting on the video, one Twitter user by the name of @tariqqq_ implied that while he is impressed by the video, the vocal performance leaves much to be desired.
“It’s like wow, but I feel like laughing. This looks like they trained for a while before immediately recording (the song cover). Whatever it is, (Transport Minister and Seremban MP) Anthony Loke is very stylish,” the user said.
Another user, @jamtheterrible, said that he has “no comments” regarding the musical capabilities of the MPs, but is entertained by the “best” video.
Meanwhile, user @aiensyamsul said that the video drove her to tears, ostensibly due to how the lawmakers are “spreading love” for the sake of the nation.
User @MiaHakucho also suggested that the song should be sung by MPs before commencing Parliament sittings, saying: “It’s like when you’re in school, you have to sing your school anthem.”
The song cover, which is prefaced by several shots of some DAP MPs standing around and talking with each other while laughing, is kickstarted in earnest by Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin, who is also Agriculture and Food Security deputy minister.
His section is followed by Loke’s part before a brief duet by Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming (Teluk Intan MP), during which Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman joins in the medley.
Deputy Finance Minister Steven Sim (Bukit Mertajam MP) then delivers a short soliloquy, urging the people to come together to build a better nation for the younger generations.
While Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Ramkarpal Singh was seen in the studio, the Bukit Gelugor MP appears to not have been given a shot to test his vocal skills.
None of DAP’s five other Indian MPs were spotted in shots of the musical’s filming. However, Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar, who is also Batu Gajah MP, is featured several times in a montage of DAP’s community work which plays later on in the video. — August 30, 2023