JOHOR BARU: In true Malaysian fashion, a group of Malay singers has performed a Chinese New Year song, complete with a festive video, to welcome the Year of the Tiger.

       The Bahasa Malaysia song, aptly titled Dong Dong Qiang, was performed by local artistes Ayie Floor 88, Harry Khalifah, Sarah Suhairi, Beby Acha, Lia Aziz and Aidilia Hilda.

       Dong Dong Qiang is usually used to describe the sound of Chinese drums.

       The four-minute, 16-second video has garnered over 436,000 views since it premiered on YouTube on Jan 7.

       The start of the video sees Harry and Ayie, both donning samfu tops, on a bicycle with a basket full of mandarin oranges.

       Then it pans to the women singers, dressed in shades of festive red and orange, performing a dance during the chorus.

       The video features other Chinese New Year staples such as red lanterns, lion dances, a big-headed doll and firecrackers – the singers even weave in a few festive phrases such as “Gong Xi Fa Cai” and “Huat ah!”.

       The song has attracted positive comments from viewers, who praised the artistes for producing a different yet catchy tune in line with Chinese New Year.

       Some commented that the meaningful song and video encapsulated the Malaysian spirit and unity while others said they were touched as it was their first time hearing a Chinese New Year song sung in Bahasa Malaysia, which reflects the country’s racial harmony.