Malaysian composer Wah Idris seeks national status for Commonwealth Games 1998 anthem ‘Standing in the Eyes of the World’, sung by Ella

Composer Datuk Wah Idris (left) with lyricist Datuk Habsah Hassan (right) and Malaysia’s Queen of Rock Nur Zila Aminuddin, or Ella (centre), at the programme ‘Standing in the Eyes of the World: Behind the Creative Process, Collective Memory and Meaning of a Song’ in conjunction with MySPAR 2026 at the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (Aswara) recently. — Bernama pic

First Published: Wednesday, 04 Nov 2026 3:43 PM MYT

Last Modified: Wednesday, 04 Nov 2026 3:45 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — After nearly three decades of being one of the songs close to the hearts of Malaysians, composer Datuk Wah Idris hopes to see Standing in the Eyes of the World receive greater recognition as a special national song.

Wah, 69, said the song, popularised by singer Ella, has its own significance and deserves to be recognised as part of the country’s musical heritage, as well as performed at various official events and national programmes.

He said the song should be given its own platform and recognition as a musical work capable of uniting Malaysians regardless of their backgrounds, while also carrying the nation’s message onto the international stage.

In this regard, he proposed that the matter be given due consideration and brought to the attention of the relevant authorities for further discussion.

“We must feel proud that we have one solid, neutral song that can bring Malaysians together and help showcase the country to the world,” he said at the symposium ‘Standing in the Eyes of the World: Behind the Creative Process, Collective Memory and the Meaning of a Song’, held in conjunction with My Symposium on Practice as Research (MySPAR) 2026.

The symposium, organised by the Centre for Postgraduate Studies, National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (Aswara), was also attended by singer Ella and lyricist Datuk Habsah Hassan.

Recalling the composition of the song, Wah said it was inspired by his desire to create a musical piece that could elevate Malaysia’s profile on the international stage in conjunction with the 1998 Commonwealth Games (Sukom).

Composer Datuk Wah Idris speaks at the programme ‘Standing in the Eyes of the World: Behind the Creative Process, Collective Memory and Meaning of a Song’ in conjunction with MySPAR 2026 at the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (Aswara) recently. — Bernama pic

He said he wanted the lyrics to have a universal appeal and not be confined solely to the sporting theme, but instead inspire enthusiasm and confidence among listeners.

The combination of its melody and lyrics has since made the song enduringly popular among Malaysians, with its use extending beyond the sporting event that originally inspired its creation.

He also viewed this development as proof that Standing in the Eyes of the World has the potential to endure as a musical work embraced and cherished by people from all walks of life.

The song also caught the attention of the United States Embassy in Malaysia, which selected a revamped version of the composition to commemorate the country’s Independence Day celebrations on July 4, 2020. — Bernama