30 September 2005

Boost for silat in Pulau Pinang

The Penang Silat Council will have its own building for its activities soon. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Abdul Rashid Abdullah said a building at the Batu Uban sports complex, which was being used as a store, would be refurbished at a cost of RM160,000 for the purpose.

He said the building would have a hostel for 15 occupants, a training arena and a hall after the refurbishment which was due to start soon.

He said the refurbishment was expected to be completed by November to be in time for a silat carnival to be held the following month in conjunction with Pesta Pulau Pinang.

The building will be known as Kompleks Majlis Silat Negeri Pulau Pinang, Abdul Rashid told reporters at the launching of one-day silat (Melayu martial art) festival at Dewan Tunku in Komtar, Penang last weekend.

Also present were state exco member Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan and Penang Silat Council president Datuk Azhar Ibrahim.

Azhar said the council planned to expand next year’s silat festival to include displays of martial arts from other ethnic groups such as wushu, silambam, kung fu, karate and judo.

More than 300 members from 10 Penang silat groups displayed their skills before a packed audience which included tourists at the silat festival.

The types of silat displayed include silat gayung pesaka, silat gayung garuda, silat gayung Malaysia, silat Melayu asli, silat sendeng tujuh, silat lintau and silat cekak.


By ZANI SALLEH
Sourced from http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/9/30/north/12144535&sec=north

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