LEARN SILAT TO PRESERVE CULTURE, YOUTH URGED

THE participation of youth in silat must not be misconstrued as a gesture to show off their strength or becoming a hero in a fight, but as a desire to prevent the martial art from being forgotten.

The Bukit Kangkar ‘Silat Sendeng’ team after a recent performance at a wedding in Muar

The move to set up silat teams was also in line with the state government's aim to reinvigorate arts and culture activities that were rapidly being forgotten by the younger generation.

The assistant coach of the Bukit Kangkar Silat Sendeng team in Sungai Mati, Muar, Rozaidi Othman, 22, said youths must be encouraged to join arts and culture activities such as silat.

The Bukit Kangkar Silat Sendeng team was established four years ago with 50 youths aged between 8 and 16, with the aim of expanding and strengthening silat, a Malay heritage, and to prevent it from becoming extinct.

Rozaidi said since its establishment, the team had been invited to participate in various events, including the district-level National Day celebration.

"Lately, we have been invited to a lot of weddings in Selangor, Malacca and Johor Baru, as well as Muar and Ledang."

He said silat sendeng was divided into several categories, including self-defence, silat sembah pembesar, silat peradaban pengantin and seni silat tari.

"For members who are skilled in weapons, we allow them to use weapons while performing the martial arts, which is accompanied by music from drums and gongs," said Rozaidi.

SOURCE: NST STREET JOHOR (JOHOR BUZZ), 29 APRIL 2009