TENOM: October 31, 2026 – After taking part in the same competition four or five times without success, Solhairi bin Panai’s perseverance finally paid off when he was crowned champion of Butitin Kalimaran 2026 on 27 October.
Solhairi, who hails from Kampung Masanoi, said the victory was especially meaningful as all his efforts and sacrifices had finally been rewarded.
“Praise to God, my efforts were not in vain this year. It was a very worthwhile struggle that ultimately led to the championship,” he told TV Sabah.
Catching attention with his performance of the song Lumpaiku Nangkuliman, originally sung by Syahrin Amud, Solhairi chose the song because he was drawn to the beauty of its lyrics and its message, which resonated with him.
To ensure his performance truly reached the audience, he admitted that he had to study the song repeatedly before he could deliver it with feeling and his own style.
“I did not learn this song just once, but many times to capture the true feeling of the song. Once I had grasped its essence, only then did I dare to perform it in my own way,” he explained.
Behind the victory, his preparation was not without challenges. His busy schedule as a civil servant meant practice time was rather limited, and he even had to steal moments during office break time to listen to and appreciate the song.
Interestingly, Solhairi had initially not planned to enter the competition before receiving encouragement from friends who convinced him that this year might be his.
The success was also witnessed by his parents, family members and friends who were willing to travel from afar to lend their support.
He added that the victory was not merely a trophy, but a special gift for all who had always believed in and supported his artistic journey.
