DJ Dave hopes ‘Meriah Syawal’ finds its place in Malaysia’s Raya soundtrack

2026-03-22 - 00:20

DJ Dave is best known for Menjelang Hari Raya, a popular song penned by S Atan 48 years ago. PETALING JAYA: Every Aidilfitri has its soundtrack — songs playing in crowded kitchens, during balik kampung drives and at lively open houses. For nearly five decades, one of those songs has been “Menjelang Hari Raya”. Its singer, DJ Dave, now hopes his newer festive number can earn a place beside it on the nation’s Raya playlist. Irwan Shah Abdullah, the man behind the stage name, helped cement that ritual soundtrack nearly 48 years ago. Composed by S Atan, “Menjelang Hari Raya” became one of those songs that arrives every year like an old friend. Last year, aiming to recapture that communal feeling, Dave released another Hari Raya tune, “Meriah Syawal”, which was born in a sudden rush of inspiration. Dave laughed when he recalled the moment. He rang up composer Fauzi Marzuki with an idea — just a week before Aidilfitri 2025. “Are you crazy? Raya is just around the corner!” Fauzi told him. Still, Dave pressed on. He wanted a song that felt like an open house: bright, easy to join, and generous in spirit. Because it arrived so close to the celebrations, the track had little time to spread through the season. Dave accepts that. He knows some songs take root slowly. “Not every Raya song will be an instant hit,” he says. “Even ‘Menjelang Hari Raya’ grew on people over time. That makes it sweeter — fans still sing it after 48 years.” Where his older hit leaned on nostalgia, Dave says this newer number leans on cheer and kindness. Its music video includes children with special needs, a deliberate choice to put empathy at the heart of the celebration. That gesture also mirrors his day-to-day work. As president of Yayasan Kebajikan Artis Tanah Air, he spends much of his energy helping fellow artistes and reminding audiences that Raya is a time to widen our circle. He laments a change he’s seen in neighbourhood life. “In the past, Malays, Chinese and Indian neighbours would drop by each other’s homes,” he says. “We shared food and laughs. That warmth is rarer now. I hope we can bring it back.” His new song asks listeners to do just that: open a door, share a plate, sing together. Music and community are only part of his story. The 78-year-old former footballer swapped the pitch for the badminton court at 55, after a nose injury. He now competes in veterans’ events, including the All England Seniors, and has come home with medals. Business keeps him busy too. He runs the Mother India eatery in Sabah and operates a carbon-reduction business. Through it all he keeps returning to one theme: service to others, in whatever form that takes. If “Menjelang Hari Raya” became part of family rituals, Dave hopes “Meriah Syawal” will join that tradition in its own way. He knows it may take time. He’s patient. He’s hopeful. In the meantime he keeps singing, organising, cheering on neighbours and strangers alike — the very acts that make Aidilfitri feel, as always, like home.