Peter showing the photos of the 29 contestants who will feature in the semi-final of the KDM Malaysia Idol Singing Contest 2013.
KOTA KINABALU: Twenty-nine contestants will feature at the KDM Malaysia Idol Singing Contest 2013, which enters the semifinal stage at Buhavan Square in Donggongon, Penampang, this Sunday.
Organisers made a surprise when they announced an additional four contestants to the 25 who already made it through to the semifinals.
The four who were initially not included in the list are Mohd Rifanzie Ruji, Sarma Sitim, Rachel Wesley Pai and Afiezal Fahmi Iggu @ Amir.
The other 25 are Andrew Poininting, Zilamaria Juhara, Sherlly Josh, Hazlinda Mohd Haniff, Ordella May Denis, Hendry Francis, Ranjit Rasid, Sitipa Jahamin, Lauridson Liaw Fu Kang, Mary @ Norasiah Intang, Evana Yusep Hera, Malvin Kalbin,Johnnetry Pingut, Edwin Sintiu, Lindra Sylvia Selvister, Jon Gavis, Deffny Pearl Tanggar, Azlee Mualif, Arie Famree Sius, Aivin Clint Lim, Jenny Gaising, Christopher Sham, Judith Daulip, Brenda Anura Lundo Juanis and Fred Joane Asoon.
These are the participants who made it through in last week’s quarterfinal stage which featured 50 of the top contestants earmarked from auditions conducted earlier this year.
Malaysia Kadazan Dusun Murut Organisation (KDM Malaysia) president, Datuk Peter Anthony said the decision to include the additional four contestants was made after conducting a post-mortem.
“Contestants relied mostly on votes to make it through to the semifinals, but there were some who we felt possessed high potential, that did not receive enough votes to make it into the the top 25.
“Therefore, we decided to absorb these four contestants to join the top 25, based on evaluation made by our professional jury,” said Peter at a press conference at the KDM Malaysia office here, two days ago.
And as a gesture of good will, Peter said the journey of the contestants who failed to make it to the semifinals would not end here.
“KDM Malaysia will assist all of the top 50 contestants who featured in the quarterfinals to attain job placements (for those unemployed) and some of them will be offered to become ambassadors for KDM Malaysia.
“This is the programme’s objective. It is not merely about singing and prizes but also about helping the people. We will also help as much as we can for them to pursue their ambitions of becoming singers.
“The biggest opportunity for contestants will come latter during the semifinals where the country’s largest recording company, Nova Records, will send representatives to evaluate their (contestants) potential,” he said.
When asked, Peter said the marking systems for contestants in this semifinal stage would be different from before.
“If in the quarterfinals the marks are made up of 50 per cent of public votes and 50 per cent marks awarded from the jury. But at this stage it will be 60-40, whereby the bulk of the points will come from public votes,” he said.
The semifinal stage is scheduled to begin at 7pm (on Sunday, August 31).
Peter hoped the contestants would double their efforts to try and impress the judges as well as take their own initiative on how to gain more votes from the public.
Only eight contestants will make it to the final.
A total of RM18,138 was collected from sales of voting papers at the quarterfinal stage.
Voting cards will continue to be sold up to the finals, whereby five per cent of the proceeds will go to the Sabah Education Department for its hardcore Poor Students Fund.
The KDM Malaysia Idol Singing Contest 2013 is offering arguably the biggest prize money in the history of singing competitions in the country, whereby the champion will receive RM100,000, runner-up RM50,000, third place RM30,000, fourth place RM15,000 and RM10,000 to fifth to eighth place winners each.