KUALA LUMPUR -In commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities which is celebrated globally on 3 December, Persatuan OKU Sentral (OKU Sentral) is organising a concert titled ‘ILHAM 2022’ featuring a line-up of talented performers from amongst Malaysia’s community of persons with disabilities (PWD).
CONCERT DETAILS
Date: Monday, 19 December 2022
Time: 03:00pm (first session)
08:00pm (second session)
Venue: Stage 1 Theatre, PJPAC, 1 Utama E
PERFORMERS
Singers
1. YB Senator Datuk (Dr) Ras Adiba Radzi
2. Khai & Dinie
3. Umar Hasfizal
4. Shahril of Muniros
5. Eyelitz
Dancers
1. Anak Seni OKU Sentral
2. OS Wheelies
3. Permata Gemalai Sari
4. Adik Neranjan A/L Maniam from PPKI SMK Desa Perdana KL (Indian traditional dance)
5. Low Mee Li & Orange of OS/Beautiful Gate
6. Tadika Istika Jaya
Music Director: Rafi Mohd
SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS
1. Yayasan Hasanah
2. CIMB
3. CIMB Foundation
4. Yayasan Sime Darby
5. Yayasan Telekom Malaysia
6. Celmonzee Wellness
7. Glenreagh Sdn Bhd
PERFORMERS’ PROFILES
Singers
1. YB Senator Datuk (Dr) Ras Adiba Radzi YB Senator Datuk (Dr) Ras Adiba Mohd Radzi (born 27 July 1968) is a politician, community activist, a para-air rifle shooter, poet and a Malaysian news anchor. She was appointed as a Senator on 20 May 2020 to represent Persons with Disabilities (PWD). She has since
contributed tremendously to the implementation of the OKU Act 2008 and continues to advocate and address issues on the inclusivity and rights of PWDs.
During Senator (Dr) Ras Adiba’s two years of service, she has made the most significant contribution to the disabled, the elderly and the needy in the areas of education, facilities and infrastructure, well-being, welfare, as well as socio-economy and employment. As with any segment of the community, Senator (Dr) Ras Adiba is very concerned on ensuring that their well-being and welfare are being looked into. In 2002, Senator (Dr) Ras Adiba was in a motor vehicle accident which resulted in her being a paraplegic. Her injury severed her Thoracic 10 or T10 level of her spinal cord. Since then, the Senator has undergone several surgeries and continuous physiotherapy. Her condition though did not deter her from participating in several Paralympic sporting events such as long-distance marathon, swimming, badminton and shooting. Senator (Dr) Ras Adiba also represented Malaysia at several international competitions in para-shooting including, the 2015 ASEAN Para Games in Singapore, Indonesia, and several World Cups in Europe. She also recorded a feat in the Malaysia Book of Records, when she successfully pushed her wheelchair from Johor Bahru to Putrajaya in 10 days spanning 490km. In 2017, Senator (Dr) Ras Adiba co-founded OKU Sentral, where she began her advocacy, educating and provisioning of aid for the disabled community. She felt that with the right voice and assistance from the government, corporate and private sectors, the disabled community can live a better life, gain more independence, and achieve greater success.
A firm believer in personal growth and up-skilling, Senator (Dr) Ras Adiba involves herself in both the pursuit of education and knowledge as well as shares her wealth of wisdom. 2. Khai & Dinie Khai dan Dinie are singers who are popular for their hit song ‘Bukan Cinta Aku’. The duo hails from Selangor and Penang respectively. Khairil Azreen Jasni, better known as Khai, suffers from glaucoma, and was awarded with the Dean’s List while studying Actuarial
Science in Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM). However, Khai’s education was disrupted due to the vision impairment in his left eye. Dinie is an icon for the programme titled ‘Kau Sumber Inspirasi Ku’ by Persatuan Siswazah Wanita Malaysia and has a single titled ‘Pemilik Segalanya’, which was composed by Adi Six Sense. Dinie suffers from molecular dystrophy that causes damage and deterioration of the nerves of the eyes. Dinie’s vision is now only at
20 per cent.
3. Umar Hasfizal
24-year-old Umar Hasfizal was diagnosed with autism when he was two years old. Since then, Umar followed the Early Intervention Program and followed the Inclusive Program at a national school and has ventured into various activities. Umar has interest and talent in the field of singing as well as reciting and memorising the Al Quran. In the field of music, Umar often receives invitations from corporate bodies and government agencies to perform at official events, including being honoured to entertain His Majesties the King and Queen, and His Highness the Prime Minister’s wife. In 2018, Umar became an Autism Icon candidate in conjunction with the Hati Ke Hati Ke Hati Award organised by Bank Rakyat Malaysia Bhd. In preparation for becoming an independent individual, Umar successfully completed his studies at Selayang Community College in the field of Culinary Fundamentals and now
works as a crew member at Ausome Café.
4. Reelmuniros of Muniros (Muzik Ungkapan Naluri Isi Rasa Orang Seni) Musician Md Shaharil Shamsuddin is better known as Reelmuniros, and hails from Ipoh,
Perak. His interest in music begins when he was 8 years old when he played quitar during fun sessions as a Boy Scout. He participated in the singing competition, Talent Time, when he was 12 years old, and at the time was called to sing in a recording for RTM Radio. At the age of 16, Reelmuniros got the opportunity to stay in the United States of America (USA) as he followed his father who was pursuing his master’s degree at the time. During the one-year
stint at Travis High School in Austin, Texas, United States of America (USA) where he continued to learn music and stage band ensemble. Upon his return to Malaysia, Reelmuniros studied bachelor’s degree in music at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), following which he pursued his career as a musician. He has worked in various places as a combo lead, and as a sessionist or backing musician. Some of his unforgettable experiences include backing popular Indonesian singers Ruth Sahanaya, Emilia Contessa and Bob Tutupoli, as well as Malaysian singers Anita Sarawak, Jamal Abdillah, M. Nasir, Siti Nurhaliza, and many others. As a backing musician, he has also been a part of various bands’ recordings for their albums covering many musical genres from Rock Kapak to Pop to Jazz and remains active until
today.
In 2012, Reelmuniros started his own four-piece instrumental fusion band called MUNIROS which stands for Muzik Ungkapan Naluri Isi Rasa Orang Seni. The band has performed in various concerts including World Youth Jazz Festival, Kau & Aku Concert, Ampang Jazz, Aswara Jazz Festival, and PJ Jazz Corner. He also works closely with various music communities including the TTDI Jazz Community. Reelmuniros also participated in the Tun Fatimah theatrical performance at Istana Budaya in 2004, Sireh Bertepuk Pinang Menari dance performance with Malaysian artist Fauziah Nawi, and many other stage performances. On the international stage, Reelmuniros has also performed in Berlin, Germany as part of the band ensemble for composer Datuk Suhaimi Mohd Zain who was more popularly known as Pak Ngah, as well as with composer Rafi Mohd Shafie’s band called Suhu Band at the fourth anniversary of the Jajan Jazz Festival in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Reelmuniros became disabled since 2015 when he was diagnosed with high myopia that affects the nerve system of his eyes, which caused the vision acuity in his right eye to deteriorate to the B3 category, and five per cent vision in his left eye, thus rendering him partially blind. As a person with disabilities (PWD) himself, he has also contributed as a music director for several PWD concerts including for YB Senator Ras Adiba’s concerts from 2015 to 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, as well as for many other poetry and jazz shows. Despite his disability, Reelmuniros continues to power on in music and remains active not
only as a musician in his own band but also as a sessionist to this day.
5. The Eyelitz
The Eyelitz was established in July 2015 when they met as a result of an invitation to perform an Eid al-Fitr feast for the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare. Starting from that moment, the music group known as The Eyelitz was officially formed. Consisting of several members, The Eyelitz is increasingly active and has participated in various events around Kuala Lumpur. In addition, after a few months after its establishment, The Eyelitz has been
involved in busking activities around Kuala Lumpur, as well as special sites under the supervision of the Malaysian Buskers Club. The Eyelitz consists of three musicians namely Syafiq as a Keyboardist/Bassist, Zaki as a Drummer/Vocalist, and Mizi as a Guitarist. The Eyelitz was the runner-up in the Battle of the Bands organised by MAB, and was the runnerup at PJ Havoc Buskers 2017. The Eyelitz has also performed in various TV shows including TV Al-Hijrah’s Assalamualaikum show in 2016, RTM1’s Buskers with Saiful Apek show in 2017, TV3’s Malaysia Today in 2019, and TV3’s Hari Raya 2020 by the Today’s Women
show in 2020.
Dancers
1. Anak Seni OKU Sentral The traditional dance group is a collaboration between Persatuan OKU Sentral and Malaysia International Dance Organization (MIDO). Now led by brother Amandus Paul, lecturer in Performing Arts Studies at UiTM. 2. OS Wheelies Previously known as OS Dancers, OS Wheelies often perform together with YB Senator Datuk Ras Adiba from the beginning of the establishment of OKU Sentral in 2017. Known as wheelchair dancers displaying aggressive skills, OS Wheelies has seen the change of members several times but remains active until now. 3. Permata Gemalai Sari The Permata Gemalai Sari group was initially established in the middle of 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic at the time, the group was not active because dance classes
could not continue during the periods of Movement Control Order (MCO). In May 2021, one of the dancers in this group represented Kuala Lumpur in the EKOKO Arts on the national level under the solo dance category. Since then, the group became active again with Malay traditional dance activities. Permata Gemalai Sari has also received dance invitations at official school events. The group currently consist of six PPKI students (14-16 years old) with learning disabilities who are from various race in Malaysia. 4. Adik Neranjan A/L Maniam from PPKI SMK Desa Perdana KL (Indian traditional dance) Neranjan, who has learning disabilities/ADHD, is a traditional Indian dancer who started learning traditional Indian dance at the age of 13 from his mother as well as through YouTube.
At the beginning of 2021, his dance teacher gave him enthusiasm and confidence in himself, and then started his first performance at the school’s Deepavali celebration. He was involved in the school’s official ceremony and was also involved with NaSA talent show which was organised by the National Special Education Association in conjunction with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2021. The sense of self-confidence he began to have continued by participating in the National Citrawarna performance in May 2022. Neranjan is also capable in Balinese dance. He has a deep interest in the art of dance and is also a member of the Gemalai Sari group and his school’s dance club. 5. Low Mee Li & Orange of OS/Beautiful Gate Low Mee Li is a dancer with polio. She has been dancing since 2010, and after meeting a volunteer named Orange, they started teaming up and Orange has been teaching and they have been doing choreographies together. Over the years they have done many shows with audience from around the world. This achievement has motivated the duo to continue improving themselves since.
6. Tadika Istika Jaya
Malaysia Federation of the Deaf (MFD)’s early childhood education centre is the centre in Malaysia that provides and accommodates early education program for the deaf and hard-ofhearing children from Taska, Tadika and Trasit programme (for primary school). In 2014, MFD was one of six NGOs given the trust to participate in a pilot project introduced by the Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development to run early childhood education program for children with disabilities, and in the case of MFD, children who are deaf. The program has then been expanded to include a kindergarten and transit programs for deaf children in primary schools around Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. There are currently 30 children from the ages of three years to 12 years enrolled, and seven teachers and teacher aides under MFD’s payroll. Tadika Istika Jaya is MFD’s kindergarten and children from Tadika Istika Jaya will be singing ‘Negaraku’ with YB Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi at the ILHAM 2022 concert.
MUSIC DIRECTOR’S PROFILE
Rafi Shafie
On 15 February 1969, composer, lyricist and musician Mohd Rafi Shafie was born in Klang, Selangor. His interest in music goes as far back as when he started playing the guitar at the age of 12. In 1998, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Music from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and has since continued to further his foray in the field having produced many compositions and played as backing musician in music recordings of almost 800 songs. Better known by his stage name, Rafi Mohd, this versatile composer has produced music compositions for many of the top hit songs by famous Malaysian singers, including Man Bai, M. Nasir, U.K’s, Jamal Abdillah, Search, Awie, Mawi, Ziana Zain, and many others. Most recently, he was the Music Director of the U.K’s 25th Year Reunion Concert held on 17 and 18 June 2022 at Istana Budaya in Kuala Lumpur. Rafi’s talent and popularity is recognised not only in Malaysia, but also internationally, having represented the country as a music conductor at a philharmonic performance in Nara, Japan, and was involved in various shows in Indonesia, Singapore and Turkiye. Apart from being an established composer and musician, Rafi is also actively involved in the Malaysian Employees Association and the Recording Performers Association of Malaysia (RPM). He continues to actively fight for the welfare of behind-the-scenes artists, especially involving the issue of royalty distribution, through his activities with RPM.Rafi recently earned his master’s degree in Performing Arts from the Universiti Malaya Academy of Malay Studies and is assigned to assist music lecturers in the teaching and learning process for classical guitar instruments, jazz guitar and cello, in addition to helping teach traditional music
genres.
