Khadijah Ibrahim - an artiste with attitude

A SINGER-grandmother with attitude - that's what I think Khadijah Ibrahim is. And intellectual too, if you don't mind! The pin-up star of the '80s was at her best when she took the Malaysian Philharmonic Hall by storm for two nights this week.

What a show it was! She kept such a high tempo throughout her performance that it was difficult not to sing along, or clap one's hands and join the fun. It was a party with a message, one that we don't get often enough from our local singing artistes.

Kathy - the glam name that graced her album covers those days - did the stage show to mark her 30 years in showbusiness, her pearl anniversary. She did the show to raise funds for abused children, single mothers, the physically challenged, and the under-privileged.

The Sultan and Sultanah of Perak were the VVIPs on the second and last night. No one, I believed, came away disappointed. She sang, cajoled, stomped and teased the crowd for more than two hours, and no one was complaining.

When papa rock Ramli Sarip, her guest performer, appeared on stage and sang the everlasting Doa Buat Kekasih, Kathy had the crowd on their feet. The duet was simply awesome!

She was somewhat cynical too, I thought. But in a delightful way, I must add.

"Here I am, trying to raise funds for charity, and there weren't much support from corporates. My team and I did raise some money, but it was hardly enough to cover costs.

"But I had a chanced encounter with a young MP-Minister who, together with a friend of his, made a few calls. And that's how I can be here tonight," she told the packed audience.

Her rapport with the audience was amazing. It was refreshing to have a hit singer on stage dispensing wit and philosophy, and a genuine attitude to help make a difference for a better and a more caring society.