Anugerah Juara Lagu (AJL35) to be postponed due to MCO

Dato' Jamal Abdillah and Wany Hasrita performed at the AJL35 Semi-Final last year
Dato' Jamal Abdillah and Wany Hasrita performed at the AJL35 Semi-Final last year

13 Jan –TV3, the organiser of the annual music event, Anugerah Juara Lagu, recently confirmed that the 35th edition of the programme will be postponed to a later date following the recent Movement Control Order announcement for Malaysia - which is from 13-26 January 2021 for several states, including the capital city.

Its Chief Executive Officer Datuk Khairul Anwar Salleh told the media, "In the last press conference, Executive Producer Huda and I were hoping that the MCO would not be imposed so that AJL35 could be held as scheduled. But then the Prime Minister announced that the restrictions will go on until 26 January, and the 14-day lockdown would restrict the preparation for AJL35, especially when it comes to the construction of the stage and the set."

Khairul Anwar stated that the construction of these sets would involve a huge number of workers, which would make it impossible for them to work during the MCO.

 Singer-songwriter Hael Husaini has three songs competing this year
Singer-songwriter Hael Husaini has three songs competing this year

"For the safety of everybody, we decided to postpone AJL35 to a later date, to be announced in the future. The best time would be after the MCO is officially ended," he added.

He also apologised to everybody involved in the programme, as well as to the audience, and expressed hope that the pandemic will subside soon.

There will be 12 songs competing for the title of Juara Lagu this year, including Siti Nurhaliza's "Bidadari Syurgamu", Hael Husaini's "Hati", as well as Zizi Kirana's "Eh". The upcoming event will be hosted by Awal Ashaari, Sherry Alhadad, and Haziq Hussni.

Sherry and Haziq among the hosts of AJL35
Sherry and Haziq among the hosts of AJL35