Peter Pragas

Background

Pragas was born in Penang, British Malaya, in 1926.

Career

He was considered one of the most prominent composers to hail from the Malaysian state of Sabah. He has been called the "Father of Sabah Modern Music" and the "Father of Sabah Music."

He moved from Peninsular Malaysia to the Crown Colony of North Borneo (present-day Sabah) in 1957, where he became the first director of Radio Sabah (now part of Radio Televisyen Malaysia). He was referred to as the "Father of Sabah Music" in Sabah Quarter Century of Songs, Composers Biographical Data (Volume 1), which was published in 1978.

He released his first instrumental album, "Land Below The Wind," through Electric and Music Industries in 1978.

In 1981, Pragas released a dual album, "Sabah Centennial Celebration," to commemorate Sabah"s 100 year Centennial Celebration. He also retired from his public career in state radio in 1981 as well.

In 1987, Pragas founded the Sabah Association of Senior Citizens. Pragas died on 30 June 2014, at the age of 87.

Pragas was buried in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Penampang Road.

Achievements

• Pragas has been credited as a strong champion of music in Sabah.

Politics

In 1999, Peter Pragas was honoured as the "Father of Sabah Modern Music" at a National Day exhibition called "Patriotism 2020," which was held at the Sabah Museum in Kota Kinabalu.