We reproduce an excerpt from the book Beyond Bicentennial: Perspectives on Malays, which provides an account of Zubir Said's life and how he came to compose the National Anthem for Singapore.

Zubir was born in Bukittinggi, Sumatra in 1907. At the age of 19, he became the leader of a travelling band, against his father's wishes and expectations. He then set out for Singapore at the age of 21 when he became tired of having to "do the right thing."