KUALA LUMPUR – Altimet, a popular figure in the music scene, may seem to have changed gears and moved firmly into the world of electoral politics after he was nominated to contest in the Selangor state election on Saturday as a Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate.
However, the 44-year-old rapper said that both vocations are very much related.
Armed with the experience and talent gained since becoming a musician, Altimet, whose real name is Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman Alhadad, will harness his skills in his bid to win over the Lembah Jaya constituency.
He hopes to materialise the coalition’s manifesto and vision more clearly so that they are acceptable to the people and voters.
“I am grateful for my experience as an artist, because it has prepared me a lot and given me the skills to face this phase of my life,” he said in an interview with Getaran, the Malay language sister portal of The Vibes.
He commented that there are both differences and similarities between being a performance artist and a politician.
“Basically, both are trying to promote or market something,” he said.
“If, on the artistic stage, we market performances or songs…in politics, we market a manifesto, vision or an offering.”
He said that the excitement and elation when going on stage are still palpable now, even though the stage can be said to be just a “playground” for him.
However, performing on stage is also different from the world of politics, as he now has to deliver speeches and speak in front of voters.
“I’m still new in the world of politics, so I’m more excited here.
“Frankly, the excitement is almost like when I first moved on stage, because I’m not an extrovert, I’m an introvert,” he shared.
“One of the most noticeable differences for me is that when I’m on stage and holding the microphone, I’m always waiting for a song.
“When there’s a song, I feel more comfortable...for years before this, I needed music in the background when I got on stage.
“Sometimes, people see me on stage now and think I am nervous because I’m waiting for a song,” he quipped.
“But God-willing, if we practice enough, it (being on a political stage) will become normal over time and more comfortable,” Altimet added.
Cherishing personal privacy
Despite his fame, Altimet is cautious to ensure that his family’s privacy is not disrupted.
He is firm about keeping them out of the limelight, adding that he made the decision to prevent any untoward incidents from happening to his family.
“I think this policy will continue with me not sharing photos of my family. What I did before when I was an artist, I will continue in the political world as well,” Altimet said.
“It was my decision to be involved in politics…it’s not fair that I get them highlighted in the public eye, because they didn’t choose to be in this situation.
“They may face criticism, even negative ones, so I don’t want those things to happen. Let me be the one to face such things,” he said.
Altimet is also a composer and lyricist. He had previously announced his retirement from the arts and joined PKR with fellow artist Datuk Afdlin Shauki.
In the last general election, Altimet had made a song called Aduh Malaysia, which became a popular number for PH’s staunch supporters at that time.
He launched it himself on the political stage at a rally in Ampang last year.
The song then went viral throughout the general election campaign and was used by PH leaders and machinery. – The Vibes, August 9, 2023
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