MELBOURNE, May 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysian-born singer K. Kamalesvaran better known as Kamahl has received another Australian honour when he was included in 'Our Entertainers of the 20th Century' at the weekend.

Organised by the Variety Club of Australia, the top entertainers of the century included Kylie Minogue, Dame Joan Sutherland, Rolf Harris, Jack Thompson and Graham Kennedy.

An elated Kamahl said it was an unbelieveable honour to be named one of the Entertainers of the Century.

"I would like to share this accolade with my family and friends, especially those in Malaysia, the country of my birth," he said.

"I know my Dad, if he were still alive, would have been as proud as Tiger Woods' father.

"However, I hope whatever success I may have achieved around the world, it will help build a small step for my fellow Asians to climb a little higher."

Kamahl, who grew up in Brickfields and went to Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur, was awarded the Order of Australia in 1994, named Father of the Year in 1998 and presented The Australian Centenary Medal by Queen Elizabeth in 2004.

But the final roll call of the top entertainers was not without controversy about those who were left out.

One such person is Ipoh-born music genius Chong Lim, who was composer and musical director for both the opening and closing ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and at the closing ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in March, events watched by millions around the world.

Lim, who went to St Michael's Institution in Ipoh, has been, since the 1980s, the composer, keyboard player and musical director for the world's who's who of entertainment, including Tom Jones, Elton John, John Farnham, the legendary Beatles producer George Martin, Kylie Minogue, Anthony Warlow, Nikki Webster and performed with Olivia Newton-John for Australian-born Princess Mary of Denmark.

--BERNAMA