SERI Delima assemblyman Connie Tan has unveiled a Chinese New Year song, using music to convey a social message on family, reunion and community ties ahead of the festive season next month.
Tan said the song, titled “Back Home Lah” (回家咯) with two-minute plus, was inspired by her observations in the constituency, where many elderly residents are living alone despite having children.
“When I go around Seri Delima, I see many elderly people. They are not without children, but most of their children are working elsewhere, many of them overseas,” she said in an interview with Buletin Mutiara.
She shared that one case in particular deeply affected her.
“There is an elderly mother with two daughters. One daughter is a person with disabilities who requires care, while the other moved to Australia more than 10 years ago, got married and started a family there, and has never returned to visit her mother. I felt that something was not right,” Tan said.
With Chinese New Year approaching, Tan said she felt compelled to act.
“Chinese New Year is about reunion. That’s why I want to encourage everyone to come home and spend time with their parents and families. This song carries that simple message,” she said.
Tan said the song was intentionally written in a gentle and reflective style, with simple and sincere lyrics and a melody that is calm rather than noisy.
“I wanted the song to touch people emotionally, not just sound festive,” she said, adding that the version currently shared is still a demo.
She said the song also serves as a platform to highlight Penang’s progress and development.
“When we talk about coming home, we also think about Penang. I wanted to let people know that Penang has changed, with many projects and developments taking place,” she said.
To support this idea, Tan collaborated with local television news anchors Lee Yee Ling, Tan Chia Yong and Ong Ching Yee.
“Their recorded segments will be inserted into the song to share information about Penang’s development. In a way, it is also about showing how Penang is moving forward,” she said.
Tan said the project began in November and involved close collaboration with a young musician.
“I wrote the lyrics myself and composed the initial melody, then worked with a young musician who provided valuable feedback. It was a meaningful learning experience,” she said.
She added that the song features five to six singers, most of whom are young talents, and that she is not the lead vocalist.
“I didn’t want to be the focus. I just want to be part of the message. This was also my first time recording in a professional studio,” she said.
According to Tan, planning the music video has been the most challenging part of the project.
“The MV is the hardest part. We plan to film over two to three days, focusing on community life and development projects in Seri Delima,” she said.
She mentioned that filming may begin around Jan 25, in conjunction with community events.
“We may start filming during the opening of a new market and Chinese New Year activities, so the visuals reflect real moments from the community,” she said.
Tan said the final version of the song is targeted for release in the first week of February.
“It’s a tight timeline, but I hope the song can reach people in time for Chinese New Year and remind them to come home, cherish family and stay connected,” she said.
Meanwhile, Tan said she and her team are planning to distribute RM50 vouchers to the B40 group in view of the upcoming Chinese New Year, adding that her service centre is also working alongside the Mutiara Volunteer Team to keep track of elderly residents living alone.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Law Suun Ting