Singapore music veteran Yusnor Ef, ‘the quintessential pop lyricist’, dies at age 87 (2025)

SINGAPORE – Cultural Medallion recipient and Malay music veteran Yusnor Ef died in the early hours of April 16 at the age of 87.

His daughter and only child Noreeta Mohamed Noor, 47, tells The Straits Times that he had breathing difficulties at around midnight on April 16 and was taken to Sengkang General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 2am.

He had been battling chronic heart ailments over the last two decades. He leaves behind his wife Jamila Jan, 77, and three grandchildren.

At press time, his body is at the family home at 99 Saraca Terrace, and will be taken to Masjid Sultan for prayers in the afternoon before burial at the Muslim cemetery in Lim Chu Kang.

The Singaporean musician wrote lyrics for more than 250 songs, including evergreen Malay pop songs from the 1960s and 1970s, and worked with icons such as P. Ramlee and Majulah Singapura composer Zubir Said.

He is also an author and historian who wrote several books on Malay music, and produced several documentaries on Malay music for Malaysian television stations.

He was president and co-founder of Perkamus, the Association of Malay Singers, Composers and Professional Musicians; chairman of theNationalArtsCouncil’s Malay Music Development Committee; and had served on the board of directors of the Composers and Authors Society of Singapore (Compass).

In a social media post on April 16, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong says he is “saddened” by Yusnor’s passing, adding: “His lyrical brilliance shaped Malay pop music, and his lifelong work helped to preserve and promote Malay heritage in Singapore. I remember fondly the exchanges we had when I was at MCCY (Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth). He never failed to remind me about the importance of heritage and how it is the soul of our nation.”

Home-grown singer and songwriter Art Fazil, 58, describes Yusnor as “the quintessential pop lyricist” who also made a big impact on the music scene with Perkamus. “Perkamus was set up at the right time when the Malay music industry in Singapore needed an organisation to help out with the needs of Malay artistes and musicians in Singapore. For example, Perkamus set up music classes for its members and organised concerts and events to promote Singapore music.”

Born Mohamed Noor Mohamed Yusofe, the former Malay language teacher was affectionately known as “Cikgu” (Malay for teacher).

In 2011, he was awarded the Cultural Medallion, Singapore’s highest arts honour.A tribute concert featuring his songs was held at Esplanade Concert Hall in 2013.

At the 2022 Compass Awards, Yusnor and close collaborator Kassim Masdor received the Lifetime Achievement Award, given to nationally renowned individuals who are outstanding musicians and have made continuous contributions to the development and nurturing of local music talent. Kassim, who died in 2014, received the award posthumously.

At the awards show, their song Aku, Dia Dan Lagu won the Top Local Malay Pop Song, a prize given to the song that earned the highest royalty earnings for the year in review.

In the same year, he received the Public Service Star at the National Day Awards, and the Anugerah Jauhari Pencapaian Sepanjang Hayat (Lifetime AchieverAward) at Berita Harian’s Achiever of the Year 2022 Awards.

Fellow Singaporean singer and songwriter Imran Ajmain notes that many Malay music lovers would recognise songs sung by music icons such as P. Ramlee, Ahmad Jais, Sanisah Huri and Anita Sarawak without knowing that Yusnor wrote them.

The 43-year-old says: “He came from an era where the songwriters were mentioned first when introducing the singers and their songs, a much-neglected component today in music and music marketing.

“From him, I learnt to announce the lyricists and composers first in all my collaborative work as they are the true souls of music. Musicians and singers are only their messengers.”

The chief executive and director of Compass, Mr Edmund Lam, says Yusnor’s“lyrical genius” and cultural contributions have left an indelible mark on generations of Singaporeans and music lovers across South-east Asia.

“He was a teacher, a mentor and an unyielding advocate for the preservation and evolution of Malay music. With warmth and generosity, he championed young talents, promoted the richness of the Malay language and reminded us of the power of music to unite and uplift.”

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