Eight vie for state Bintang Kecil title

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THE LINE UP: (From back second left) public relations and human resource development head Hipni Sulaiman, Fee, and assistant programme director / entertainment and music head Faridah Sulong seen with the state finalists. Khalid is at back right.

KUCHING: Eight of Sarawak’s best young singers will compete in the state level Bintang Kecil 2012 this Saturday.

The finals at RTM Kuching’s Auditorium P Ramlee will begin at 3pm.

In a press conference yesterday, Sarawak Broadcasting deputy director Fee Lin Chew said Sarawak and Sabah will be the only two states sending their top two winners to the finals as there is a high interest in seeing new talent from East Malaysia.

The eight finalists were drawn from four zones – Sri Aman/Sarikei/Betong Zone, Miri/Bintulu/Limbang Zone, Sibu/Mukah/Kapit Zone, and Kuching/Samarahan Zone.

They are Fatmawati Helmi (10), Ulya Amani Halim Cheng (11), Muhammad Shahrezza Abu Samah (10), Mohd Azirul Afzan Mohd Azmi (10), Perry Yang Tchie Hunn (11), Nur Aina Adilah Hipni (11), Nur Syuhada Afiqah Roestardimon (11), and Razid Isomail (11).

The show on Saturday will have a masquerade concept.

Last year’s champion Lanie Armysha Mohd Noor and Pemuzik Permata Seni violinist Mohd Ad’din Rahman Zaid will also perform.

As with previous years, the competition will be recorded for television and broadcast ‘live’ on SarawakFM.

Bintang Kecil Competition coordinator Khalid Suud said they held auditions in 17 locations in Sarawak this year including three new locations – Selalang, Bekenu and Belawai.

“We had nearly 200 participants this year. The response was so good,” he said, adding that they even had sign-ups who were too young to compete this year but were allowed to experience the audition process.

Bintang Kecil was introduced in Sarawak in 1986 to encourage children to explore their singing talents through singing Malay songs.

This is in line with RTM’s objective of helping the government create unity, especially since the competition attracts participation from all races.