A special and rare appearance by Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamed Ali mesmerised a packed audience at a concert in Istana Budaya last night, who gave her a standing ovation.

The concert featured singing legends Jamal Abdillah and M Nasir, and the Prime Minister’s wife entertained the audience by playing the violin for three songs, "Fatwa Pujangga," "Engkau Laksana Bulan" and "Gubahan Ku." 

She dedicated her appearance – believed to be her first public concert performance – to Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, the firefighter who died last Monday after succumbing to serious injuries sustained during last month's Seafield temple riots. 

Siti Hasmah, in a brief speech before taking to her violin, said Adib’s wedding was supposed to have taken place on the same day as the concert. 

She also asked the audience to recite the al-Fatihah prayer which was led by Jamal Abdillah.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in a special message for the four-night concert which ends today, described the 'Konsert Duo Lagenda' (Legendary Duo Concert) as the concert of the year.

“The combination of Jamal Abdillah and M Nasir, two big and famous names in the entertainment industry would certainly attract the attention of music fans in the country.

“I was also excited when told that the two big names would participate in the concert. 

"I also felt proud when asked to be the patron and I expressed my thanks for being given the opportunity to write the welcoming message in conjunction with the Duo Concert,” he said.

Mahathir was confident that the concert would become a memorable event for the local music fans who had the opportunity to witness the occasion.

The prime minister also expressed his deep appreciation to Jamal Abdillah and M Nasir by saying he believed that Malaysians would appreciate the achievements of the two artistes who succeeded to reach the peak of their careers through determination and hard work.

- Bernama