KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 -- To preserve Malay music heritage, Luncai Emas, the brainchild record company of Malaysia's music maestro Datuk M. Nasir, will release a collection of the 100 best Malay songs from the past century.

Titled Projek 100 Lagu 100 Tahun, the collection will feature 100 of the most significant Malay songs from the 1900s to the 2000s, reimagined by top local artists in a contemporary style while retaining their core values.

The initiative was spearheaded by Prof Emeritus Datuk Seri Mohamad Mustafa Ishak, the former vice-chancellor of Universiti Utara Malaysia, along with Luncai Emas' composer, Mohd Azhar Abu Bakar - popularly known as Azmeer.

The collection will be released in four volumes, with each volume containing ...