KOTA KINABALU: A group of 30 teenagers here has made a video of the latest Gangnam style dance with a distinctively Malaysian flavour just in time for Merdeka Day today.

The video a parody of the South Korean Gangnam-style video that went viral weeks ago has chalked up over 500,000 views since it was posted on Aug 27 on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m06fgq7vPs.

Sung mainly in Hakka by 20-year old performer Sheng Chai, the lyrics highlighted Sabah's “pretty ladies” and unique cuisine such as Tuaran mee in the state.

Tanjung Aru style: The group doing their version of Gangnam Style in Kota Kinabalu.

The cast, comprising students from four secondary schools in the city, also have a message from Sabah's youths.

“This is their way of voicing their love and concern for Malaysia.

“The message is basically that we Sabahans are one family,” said 31-year-old videographer Jack Wong, who shot, directed and produced the four-minute video using a Canon D60 camera.

He said the students, who met at a K-box singing competition, came up with the idea of performing the parody to promote their state.

“That is why at the end of the video, they got together to wave the Jalur Gemilang and dedicate their project to their country,” said Wong, who admitted to still being in shock over the overwhelming response to the video, attracting viewers from South Korea, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Britain.

He said although he had been reluctant when the students approached him with the idea due to time constraints, he eventually gave in to their infectious enthusiasm.

“These youths are so energetic and although my friends and I did not have much time, we agreed to make this video with them over last weekend,” he said.

Wong said his two friends helped to organise and transport the cast members to various location shots outside the city's shopping centres, including Centre Point, Suria and City Mall, the Tanjung Aru beach and even the Tambalang horse race course in Tuaran.

The original Gangnam video by Korean rapper Psy has even gotten Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak puzzled, who asked his Twitter followers: “Been hearing about Gangnam Style all of last week, even in the news. What's your view that makes it so popular?”

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