Exasperated with the exorbitant Express Rail Link (ERL) fares, young songwriter Amirudin Hizadin penned his now viral song Mana Hilang 2.6 Bintang to express his mounting frustration with the rising cost of living.

The 23-year-old, who stays in Cyberjaya, is forced to take the ERL whenever he ventures into Kuala Lumpur.

“It costs me around RM50 per return trip.

"One day, I got so stressed, and because of this I started singing about it,” he lamented to Malaysiakini in an interview Thursday.

Amirudin said it only took him 10 minutes to pen the lyrics and melody for the song last week.

The college student, who taught himself to play the guitar, said songwriting to him is like writing a diary.

“When I am stressed and I want to voice something, I convert the thoughts into a song. This song is about how I feel,” he said.

Accidental cyberhit

The Kedah lad said it was obvious why he made the reference to the prime minister's RM2.6 billion donation issue in his song, citing the current scenario in the country.

“Most people blame one another for not voicing out when they themselves do nothing. So instead of waiting for others to voice out, I wrote my own song,” he said.

However, he said he did not expect the song to go viral on the internet. “I didn’t expect such a response. Writing songs is a normal thing for me.”

Although he posted the song on YouTube and shared it with his college mates, he is unsure who then shared the song elsewhere thus making it a sensation.

Describing the song, Amirudin said the use of the words bintang-bintang (stars) and Pak Mentari (Mr Sun) were used for a reason.

“The stars shine but when they are gone, we are in darkness. That’s why I used the word 'stars' in light of the current issue.

Time to speak up

“I also used the word 'stars' because we know how hard it is to live our lives now,” he said. As for the mention of Pak Mentari , Amirudin said the term was used since the sun is the brightest star.

“I asked the head of the stars, since the stars are gone. But when the head of the stars cannot provide an answer, there’s nothing more that I can say, right?” he explained.

On the song’s elegiac tone, Amirudin said he is indeed sad with the country’s current situation as it is not about his hardships alone.

“When I want to buy food and the prices have increased, I also think about what would happen if I don’t buy it. It would affect the business owner’s children, too.

“So I am not the only one with problems, but everyone that I encounter.”

When told that his song touched many, Amirudin said this shows that what he wrote resonated with the feelings of most Malaysians.

“I thank those who are touched by my song. It shows there are those who appreciate what I write. This also shows that it is not only I who thinks this way.”

As a youngster, Amirudin believes that his song will inspire more youths to express themselves through the arts.

“Based on the response I have received, I think this song will inspire people to express their sadness.

“Because I don’t think we can voice our views directly,” he said.

Amirudin Hizadin - 'Mana Hilang 2.6 Bintang'

The song became viral overnight, we had our opportunity to have Amirudin Hizadin for an up close and personal interview at Malaysiakini. Here's a snippet of his 'mini concert' after the interview at the editorial floor!Read more here: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/318619

Posted by Malaysiakini on Thursday, 5 November 2015

Where Mr Sun don't shine

Although there is a tiny shred of fear with regards to the effect of the song on the authorities, Amirudin said there was nothing he could do about in the current reality.

“Our fates are written. So I can only accept whatever comes my way,” he said philosophically.

In his song, Amirudin sings about the likelihood if he had not come to Kuala Lumpur considering the hardships of city life.

He laments about the cost of toll, petrol, electricity and food but tries to soothe himself by singing, "Never mind, I'll wait for BR1M and assistance."

The chorus avoids direct mention of the RM2.6 billion donation or the prime minister not coming clean on the matter but references are apparent.

“Where have the 2.6 stars disappeared to, which should be shining upon our nightmare and darkness?

“Where have the 2.6 stars disappeared? I ask Mr Sun ( Pak Mentari ), but he is still silent,” Amirudin sings.

'Mentari' or ‘sun’ in Malay is wordplay on ‘ menteri ’, or 'minister'.

Meet the man behind Amirudin in the next instalment of 'Malaysians Kini - Malaysians you should know' this Sunday.