Singer Sheqal Wants To Settle In Hometown, Continue Writing Books

SEREMBAN, March 7 (Bernama) -- Popular 90s singer Shaharim Sallehudin, better known as Sheqal, intends to return and settle in his hometown of Kampung Tanjung Putus in Raub, Pahang, after more than 40 years of living away.

The 60-year-old artiste, famous for his song Cinta Nusantara, shared that although he now uses a wheelchair after suffering four strokes since 2020, the most recent one three years ago, his passion for continuing his artistic journey by writing books in his hometown remains strong.

"I long to go home... the village is a historical place and I want to work as an artist there. I've been away since I was 19, previously I lived in Kuala Lumpur and, since 2016, I have been living in Negeri Sembilan.

"I don't have enough money to settle in my hometown now. Even here (Seremban, I don’t have friends or relatives anymore. My friends have all passed away.

"Back in my hometown, I still have my mother and younger brother… my other siblings live in different states," he told reporters after Pahang Communications and Multimedia, Youth, Sports and Non-governmental Organisations Committee chairman Fadzli Mohamad Kamal visited him at his home in Taman Tuanku Ja’afar here today.

During the visit, Fadzli presented a cash donation to Sheqal on behalf of the Pahang government as a gesture of support and care for the Pahang-born artiste.

Sheqal also said that he has written seven books so far, with one already published, and that the idea for the books came from his experiences as a writer for tabloids and as a moderator.

"I've been writing since 1990... a long time now. Most are religious books, and some are in the form of poetry. I want to write poetry in a book before I die. People have known me as a singer, but this time I want to be recognised as a writer," he said.

Sheqal, who also suffers from stage four kidney disease, thanked the Negeri Sembilan government and fellow artistes for always supporting him as well as his wife Normah Mohd Yusoff and their two children for their constant encouragement.

"Thank you also to the Pahang government for the assistance. It’s not just about the money, but the encouragement it gives me. I am deeply touched that they still remember me," he said, adding that he now receives follow-up treatment every two months and is also mindful of his diet.

Meanwhile, Fadzli hoped that the donation would help ease Sheqal’s burdens, including supporting his ongoing treatment, and prayed for the artiste's recovery.

Fadzli said that his team, through Sekretariat Perantau Anak Pahang, consistently tracks down Pahang-born who have moved out from the state, especially those who are less fortunate, to provide support and assistance according to their needs and the set criteria.

“To anyone who has left the state and needs help, please continue to reach out to our secretariat via our Facebook page. We remain committed to helping them and ensuring the well-being of all Pahang folks living outside the state,” he said.

-- BERNAMA