KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 — A new international girl group has debuted in Malaysia! Introducing KLP48! A sister group to the popular Japanese mega girl-group AKB48, KLP48 is the latest addition to the family, making it the 13th international affiliated group to debut. AKB48 first debuted in Akihabara, Tokyo in 2005 and has since grown into a music phenomenon as one of the most successful girl groups in the world, according to The Washington Post. The first generation members of KLP48 were revealed this afternoon at Menara The Stride where they performed the AKB48 song Aitakatta for the media.
The first generation of KLP48 features 13 international members: seven Malaysians, four Japanese, one from Hong Kong and another from Indonesia. The Malaysian members are Yi Shyan, Salwa, Lucine, Amanda, Ann Drea, Tiffany, and Khalies with international members Devi (Indonesia) and Hillary (Hong Kong). The four Japanese members, Haruka, Cocoa, Suzuha, and Yurina were transferred from AKB48 and sister group STU48 based in Setouchi.
It has been quite the journey for the nine new members since auditions first opened earlier in January this year. Malaysian member Yi Shyan, 20, told Malay Mail she was proud to make it through the tough training. After auditions were completed, the trainees had to be split into three teams and trained to be idols, including for singing and dance training.
“The most challenging part of the training was the fact that some of our members had to go to school and w.