With earthy tones and unique sounds, a new bilingual worship song by the Malaysian Worship Collective and singer-songwriter Yuin Lu is making waves across the local scene with its resounding call for united worship.
Datanglah Pujilah, released in time for Merdeka and Malaysia Day, features a lesser-known traditional instrument of Borneo — the jatung utang,
a traditional xylophone of the Dayak Kenyah people.
Sape artiste Garry S. Raymond introduced this instrument to the team as they searched for a new sound that would capture the cultural tapestry of Malaysia, and echo her worshipping heart.
A sound of invitation to worship
Traditionally, the jatung utang was played whenever travellers reached a lanau (rest hut) along forest paths. Those who arrived first would strike its wooden keys, not to entertain, but to encourage those still on the way.
It was a sound of welcome, a way of saying: Walk this way. Rest is near.
“What a call to worship!” says Juwita Suwito, co-founder of the Malaysian Worship Collective. “What a beautiful image of invitation, encouragement, and
communal worship—arriving at a moment, lifting up a sound of praise, and calling others to behold His beauty.”
In Datanglah Pujilah (Come Behold), the jatung utang is intentionally not the star of the show. You’ll hear its sound here and there, not everywhere.
For the Malaysian Worship Collective, the arrangement reflects culture itself, always present in our identity, even when it’s not in the spotlight.
The team did not know the full symbolic meaning of the jatung utang at the start; they simply took a step of faith. Only later did they discover how perfectly it echoed the song’s heart: a call for believers to gather and lift up a united sound of praise.
Different textures, one song of praise
The mid-tempo track opens with the voice of Semai pastor Arwien Bah Atang in Bahasa Malaysia, answered by Kenyah worship leader Dr. Tunung Robin. It then flows into English with its songwriter Yuin Lu, answered by urban worship leader Matthew Rajendram.
The production team itself mirrors Malaysia’s diversity — with musicians from Sabah, Sarawak, Perak, and the Klang Valley.
Released just before Malaysia’s National Day and Malaysia Day, the song is more than a reflection of our diversity. It is a heartfelt call for Malaysia to unite in worship — to find beauty in coming together before God, lifting our own sound of praise.
The Malaysian Worship Collective was formed in 2018 out of a burning desire to bring together worship leaders, songwriters, musicians, and intercessors from different denominational backgrounds to resound a Malaysian voice of worship in the heavenly realms.
Their mission is threefold: to introduce Malaysian worship songs, equip worship ministries, and raise a Malaysian voice of worship.
Yuin Lu, a singer-songwriter from Shah Alam, is dedicated to creating worship songs that uplift and inspire. With a rich background as a worship leader, pianist, and backup singer, she has faithfully served her local Baptist church since the early ’90s.
In 2020, Yuin felt a divine calling to songwriting, drawing deep inspiration from Scripture to strengthen people’s faith and relationship with Christ.
Learn more about the Malaysian Worship Collective here.
