Dondang Sayang legend Mohd Baharim still burns with passion

MALAYSIANSKINI | Veteran exponent of traditional Malay art form Dondang Sayang Mohd Baharim Mohd Sharip has just been bestowed the honour of a BOH Cameronian Lifetime Achievement Award.

The 78-year-old received the recognition during the awards ceremony held on May 14 at Stage 1 of the Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPAC).

He joins a list of luminaries: the late Krishen Jit (2002), Ramli Ibrahim (2003), Faridah Merican (2004), the late Dalang Dollah Baju Merah (2005), the late Syed Alwi Syed Hassan (2006), Professor Ghulam-Sarwar Yousof (2007), Lee Lee Lan (2008), and The Temple of Fine Arts (2009).

It was hard to pin down Mohd Baharim for an interview because he is still very much in demand, performing regularly at public events, weddings, and dinners.

Born in 1944 in Kampung Bertam Ulu, Malacca, he is the son of a police officer who was a good violin player. His grandfather was a violinist as well as a Dondang Sayang performer.

Baharim learnt...