KUALA LUMPUR: After 25 years of disappearing from the Malaysian entertainment industry, popular 1980s singer Ben Nathan has made a comeback with a new single titled Kebahagiaanmu.
The Stanza Sepi Sekeping Hati hitmaker is grateful to be singing again after facing hardships and being homeless for six years.
Ben thanked fellow artiste and Yayasan Kebajikan Artis Tanahair (YKAT) president, Datuk DJ Dave, for getting him back on his feet.
"I like the song Kebahagiaanmu and thank DJ Dave for producing it. I love him (DJ Dave) because he has treated me well.
"My family is also happy for me and supports me. I'm happy since I'm a 'star' to the fans who love me and are still interested in hearing me sing," he said in a news report today.
Ben, 62, added: "It's fun to sing songs and I really miss singing."
Ben's youngest brother Bob, 49, said that his brother now lives in a house in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
"I'm currently looking after my brother. My brother's health is now stable, although he still needs to take certain medications, including being taken to see a specialist doctor once a month for monitoring.
"Thankfully, Ben is fine so far and we as a family have never left or ignored him during this time.
"Even though there's negative talk out there accusing the family of neglecting Ben, that is completely untrue," he said.
Bob added: "I hope Ben succeeds in his comeback with the single Kebahagiaanmu and is enthusiastic about his work. I will continue with the plan for him to record a second single soon.
"I am sure that my brother will be successful in managing his life again with the support and love from us as his family members. Likewise, my mother always wishes for Ben's success," he said.
Ben recorded Kebahagiaanmu last year with funding from the Cultural Economy Development Agency (CENDANA) worth RM20,000.
Ben has previously recorded several albums, including Stanza Sepi Sekeping Hati pada 1986, Ilusi Satu Penantian (1987) and Ucapan Tak Seindah Sayang (1989).