Strategic Planning and International Division, Ministry of Information Malaysia has issued the following media statement:-
ASEAN ANTHEM COMPETITION
Introduction
The ASEAN Charter signed by the ASEAN Leaders during the 13th ASEAN Summit on 20th November 2007 in Singapore, stipulated in Article 40 that "ASEAN shall have an Anthem".
Therefore, Member Countries agreed to have an open competition to select the best composition as the ASEAN Anthem.
Criteria an ASEAN Anthem
Member Countries are of the view that the ASEAN Anthem should incorporate the following elements:
- Lyrics shall be composed in English
- Composition to reflect the dignity of an ASEAN Anthem, and be not more than one minute long
- Lyrics should reflect ASEAN cooperation and solidarity
- Entries shall, whenever possible, reflect ASEAN's diverse culture and ethnicity
- The ASEAN Anthem, as a whole should be an original composition
Format of Competition
The format of competition will be in the form of open competition for citizens of Member States. Nationals of a Member State will have to submit entries directly to the respective ASEAN National Secretariats of ASEAN Member States to check qualifications and determine whether each entry has fulfilled the prerequisite criteria. Thereafter, each ASEAN National Secretariat is required to submit the entries which have qualified to ASEAN-Thailand by end of September 2008 for consolidation and submission to the "ASEAN Composers' Forum".
In Mid October 2008, Thailand will convene an 'ASEAN Composers Forum" consisting of one prominent composer from each member country, plus 3 prominent musical experts from a musical institution in a neutral country. At the Forum, the composers will act as judges in choosing the best composition and if needed, they will be tasked to improve and rearrange the composition into an ASEAN Anthem.
Term of Entries and Timeline
* Entries to be sent with score and sheet music (note and lyrics) with voice and musical instruments (preferably piano) recording submitted on CD
* The period open for submission of entries/compositions is 1 August to 20 September 2008
* Thailand as the host of the competition, will be responsible for rearrangement of the winning entry, as well as adaptation into a full orchestra version for using at the 14th ASEAN Summit in Thailand in December 2008.
Copyright
The selected entry / composition can be revised and rearranged into the anthem of ASEAN, and will be the reserved copyright of ASEAN.
Prize
The winning composition will receive USD 20,000 (twenty thousand US dollars).
Submission of Entries
All entries should be submitted to the following address :-
Strategic Planning & International Division
Ministry of Information Malaysia
12A Floor, Menara PKNS
No. 17, Jalan Yong Shook Lin
46050 Petaling Jaya
(Attn: Ms. Wan Azizah Wan Jaafar)