{
  "id": 4057796,
  "title": "Middle Eastern singer’s musical tribute to Malaysia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/middle-eastern-singers-musical-tribute-to-malaysia",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-28T23:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/08/29/middle-eastern-singers-musical-tribute-to-malaysia"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Naseem Sultan, a Middle Eastern singer with roots in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has made Malaysia his home for approximately 12 years. While studying in Malaysia, he developed a deep affection for the country, its people, and culture. To express his gratitude, he has released a new song titled \"Aku Cinta Malaysia,\" a collaborative effort with local singer Yasin Sulaiman.\n\nThe song, which blends Middle Eastern and Malaysian influences, features lyrics in both Malay and Arabic. It serves as a tribute to Malaysia's Merdeka Day and Malaysia Day. Naseem, who can sing in ten languages, including Malay, Tamil, Mandarin, Hindi, Spanish, and Arabic, collaborated with Yasin on the project around 2019. However, the pandemic caused delays, and Naseem is thrilled to finally record the song.\n\nNaseem expresses his hope that the song will build bridges between cultures and inspire international audiences, particularly those from the Middle East, to discover Malaysia's beauty. Collaborating with Yasin, known for popular hits such as \"Mimpi Laila,\" \"Alhamdulillah,\" and \"Kawan Lama Salam Hari Raya,\" adds further significance to the project. The music video will showcase Malaysian landmarks like Dataran Merdeka and Putrajaya, and feature cameos from local celebrities and influencers.\n\nLooking ahead, Naseem plans to release more new music as part of an upcoming album, including a full Malay song titled \"Money Money Yalla.\" He describes this song as \"catchy, fun, and comedic,\" describing it as a tale of foreigners coming to Malaysia, working alongside Malaysians, and exploring various jobs and opportunities to build a better life. Naseem hopes his fans appreciate the song and continues to spread love among them.",
  "summary": "Naseem Sultan teams up with local performer Yasin Sulaiman on ‘Aku Cinta Malaysia’, a song in honour of the country’s people and culture.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Middle Eastern singer’s musical tribute to Malaysia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/middle-eastern-singers-musical-tribute-to-malaysia-4061299",
        "published": "2026-08-28T23:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}