[1] It was first published and performed on 7 July 1957 at the Victoria Memorial Hall and was eventually broadcast in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur as well.
Feeling that it should not have been edited without his consent, Zubir wrote an open letter to the New Nation newspaper on 25 August protesting the change, likening the act to "damaging the prestige of the original painter".
In an interview with Berita Harian, Zubir called for a law that would prevent such an act in the future, noting that there was no copyright for music and songs.
[2] A mediator assisted in reaching a compromise in which a repetitive verse was removed with Zubir's approval and the original lyrics reinstated, in time for the song to be taught to students that October.
[6] In the open letter published in 1974, Zubir wrote that some of the lyrics were intended to urge children to be progressive, healthy, knowledgeable, patriotic and respectful, amongst other similar themes.