This video is in English. Scroll down for the Malay, Tamil and Mandarin versions.
A Malay duet. A Tamil dance. A Hindi classic.
In Prime Minister Anwar’s Mixtape, FindingOut Malaysia brings together three musical moments: Anwar Ibrahim sharing a song with David Arumugam, joining an MGR impersonator’s dance, and singing with piano accompaniment in New Delhi.
Each selection carries its own history, from Malaysian pop to Tamil cinema and classic Hindi film music. Below, we explore what the song titles mean, where the music comes from, and the setting of each performance.
The excerpts come from separate events in different years, including moments before Anwar became Prime Minister. They have been brought together as a musical compilation.
Track 1 — A Malay Duet
“Sampaikan Salam Cintaku” · Shah Alam · January 2019
The meaning: The Malay title can be rendered naturally in English as “Send my love”, or more literally, “Convey my loving regards.” It is an affectionate message to someone missed, giving the song its warm, wistful character.
The song’s background: “Sampaikan Salam Cintaku” was composed by A. Ali (Hamdan Atan), with lyrics by Juwie. It belongs to the Alleycats catalogue and the band’s 1986 Sampaikan Salam album. That places it in the Malaysian pop music of the 1980s, decades before this duet. The album’s recording credits list David and Loganathan Arumugam as vocalists. For listeners who grew up with Alleycats, the melody can bring a strong sense of familiarity and nostalgia.
The moment in the mixtape: David Arumugam invited Anwar to join him at a PKR gala in Shah Alam in January 2019. mStar’s contemporary report describes the duet and the audience’s applause. The appeal here is the shared performance: a familiar singer, a familiar song, and a guest joining in. Footage is credited to The Star / StarTV.
Watch Track 1 from 0:10 in the English mixtape →
Track 2 — A Tamil Dance
“Naan Aanaiyittal” · Desa Mentari, Petaling Jaya · 2018
The meaning: “Naan Aanaiyittal” means approximately “If I give the order.” Its message is assertive: using authority to challenge wrongdoing and protect ordinary people from hardship. That gives it a very different mood from the gentle longing of the Malay song.
The song’s background: The song comes from the 1965 Tamil film Enga Veettu Pillai, starring M. G. Ramachandran, widely known as MGR. The recorded voice is T. M. Soundararajan, with lyrics by Vaali and music by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, as credited by Saregama. MGR performed the song on screen; Soundararajan was the playback singer.
The song became closely associated with MGR’s screen image as a defender of the poor. A retrospective on Vaali recalls its place in the film and its promise of relief from suffering. This background helps explain the commanding poses and energetic gestures that an MGR impersonator brings to the stage.
The moment in the mixtape: In 2018, Anwar joined an MGR impersonator at an Indian cultural night in Desa Mentari. KiniTV’s report describes a cheering, clapping crowd. Anwar is dancing here, and the performer beside him is an impersonator of the late star.
Watch Track 2 from 1:26 in the English mixtape →
Track 3 — A Hindi Classic
“Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat” · New Delhi · September 2026
The meaning: The title asks, approximately, “Are you a dream, or are you real?” It expresses romantic wonder: the feeling that someone is so captivating that their presence seems almost dreamlike. The mood is playful and admiring.
The song’s history: This is a Kishore Kumar song from the 1965 Hindi film Teen Devian, starring Dev Anand. Its music was composed by S. D. Burman, with lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. The film’s archived song booklet records those creative credits, while the soundtrack listing identifies Kishore Kumar’s recording.
The original belongs to the era when playback singers supplied the voices for stars’ on-screen musical performances. Here, Kishore Kumar’s voice is associated with Dev Anand’s screen presence. Knowing that distinction helps place the song within Hindi cinema’s musical tradition. More than sixty years after the film, it is still being revisited in performances such as this one.
The moment in the mixtape: Anwar sings the classic with piano accompaniment during his New Delhi visit in September 2026. Bernama reported that the impromptu rendition, shared on social media during the BRICS summit visit, drew appreciative reactions in India. It brings the compilation to a quieter close after the Tamil dance. The video credits Anwar’s original social-media material and The Star’s video coverage.
Watch Track 3 from 2:18 in the English mixtape →
Watch in Malay, Tamil or Mandarin
The three versions below present the same musical moments in Malay, Tamil and Mandarin. The English version is at the top of this page. Each has narration and presentation in the selected language, while the performances retain their original songs and sound.
What Goes on the Mixtape Next?
A message of love, a bold promise and a moment of romantic wonder: the three songs take us through very different musical moods. Which performance is your favourite? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or suggest another musical moment for a future FindingOut compilation.
Sources & Editorial Note
The linked reports and music catalogues provide the event context and song background. Title meanings above are brief English explanations, rather than full translations of the lyrics. Dates refer separately to the original songs and to Anwar’s performances.
The illustrated cards and narration in the videos were created with AI assistance. The illustrations are creative artwork, not documentary photographs. The performance excerpts retain their recorded sound. English subtitles in the English version cover narration and brief performance labels, rather than translating the complete song lyrics.
Background music beneath the narrated cards: “Monkeys Spinning Monkeys” by Kevin MacLeod, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0; trimmed, faded and mixed. No additional background music was placed over the three performance excerpts.
Third-party footage, songs and recordings remain subject to their respective rights holders’ rights. FindingOut Malaysia’s contribution is the editorial selection, contextual presentation, narration and graphic design. This independent presentation is for musical interest, commentary and entertainment; no affiliation with or endorsement by the people, organisations or rights holders featured is implied.