11 June 2006

KUALA TERENGGANU: Silat will be declared a national self-defence art and registered as a national heritage.

The Culture, Arts and Heritage ministry will work with the Education Ministry and the National Silat Federation (Persaka) in order to incorporate the art as part of the school's co-curriculum.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said this was also because silat originated in Malaysia . This move would see more Malaysians taking up silat, he told reporters after closing the Silat Festival 2006 here.

Various programmes will be organised to make silat more attractive to students including a nationwide convention in August. The ministry will also consult Persaka on the genres of silat it intends to protect and propogate. The three-day event saw 526 exponents demonstrating various genres of silat and featured an exhibition of silat-related items.

Written by SEAN AUGUSTIN
Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-146933362/silat-registered-national-heritage.html

10 June 2006

Silat to be given national self-defence status

KUALA TERENGGANU, June 10 (Bernama) -- Silat, the Malay martial art, will be declared a national self-defence art soon

Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, who announced this today, said it was time for the government to give recognition to silat as it is a national heritage that originated in the country

"It is only fitting since the organisations under Pesaka (National Silat Federation of Malaysia) have a total of 4.2 million members," he told reporters after closing the first National Silat Festival at Gong Badak here

Also present were Pesaka acting president and Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan and Terengganu state executive councillor Din Adam

Rais said silat would be registered as a national heritage under the National Heritage Act as the first step towards government recognition

After that, he would prepare a working paper for the federal and state governments to recognise silat as a national self-defence art

The Education Ministry and Higher Education Ministry would also be asked to make silat a subject in the co-curriculum in schools, colleges and universities, he said

Mohamad said Pesaka would hold a silat convention in Selangor in August to discuss the future direction of the martial art

Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-147143112/silat-given-national-self.html

07 June 2006

Pencak Silat competition in Temburong

In conjunction with His Majesty's 60th birthday celebration, the organising committee of Pencak Silat championship in Temburong District will be organising a "Pencak Silat" championship on July 2.

The objective of the championship is to foster closer rapport among participants as well as to add to the merriment and joy of the royal birthday celebrations in the district. It also aims to develop and upgrade the sport of Pencak Silat, a self-defence art, in the district and in Brunei.

The championship is also to scout for new talent for the national squad. Winners in the championship will represent the district to compete at the national level championships to be held sometime in July this year.

Awg Jeluddin bin Tuah said the championship is divided into several categories, "Silat Cekak Asli Brunei", "Kuntau", "Wiralaga ( Olahraga)", "Wiragana Tungal", "Wiraganga", and "Wiraluka".

The categories are open for both men and women (adults) and boys and girls (youth). All categories competed during the championship will also be competed at national level.

Entry forms can be obtained from Awg Haji Lampong at Sultan Hashim Batu Apoi Primary School, Puni Religious School, Schools Department of Temburong District and at Batu Apoi Sports Complex and Religious Office in the district.

Closing date for entries is June 15.

Written by ACHONG TANJONG
Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-146987521/brunei-pencak-silat-competition.html

03 June 2006

Mazlan gives Kedah the edge

KEDAH's silat strength revolves around a towering figure called Mazlan Shaari (pic) and the former world champion has always made sure that his home State remains as the major force in the Malaysia Games. Mazlan has been in charge of Kedah for the last three Games and under him, they won four gold in Sabah in 2002, five gold medals in 2004 and their 2006 campaign ended yesterday with four gold and two silver at the Insaniah Hall.

Mazlan, also a former national middleweight champion in taekwondo, was appointed as the national coach after 2004 Games and under his guidance, the national exponents returned with six gold from the World Silat Championships in Singapore last year. Despite his success in such a short time with the national team, Mazlan is a Kedahan by heart and returned to help the State after the Manila Sea Games last December. "I would say Kedah are the strongest when it comes to silat and I will do anything to maintain that status. That's the reason I came back to help them after the Sea Games," said Mazlan. "Don't mistake me. I want to give my best for the national team as well but I need to return and help Kedah as we are hosting the Games.

"I'm employed by the Kedah State Sports Council and with their consent, I will rejoin the national team after this. "However, come the next Malaysia Games, I will return for six months to train my young talent. That is going to be my coaching path from now onwards." The national squad have another experienced coach in Ahmad Wardi Salim and this is one of the reasons why Mazlan is able to give Kedah a helping hand. Kedah's gold medals yesterday came from Jabbar Zulkifli in the men's below 55kg, Nik Arrafi Mat in the men's below 80kg, Rozilawati Azizan (women's below 50kg) and Marshito Ismail (below 65kg). Pahang, with their strength in the silat seni (pattern) events, were the overall champions with eight gold, four silver and five bronze medals.

Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-146671898/mazlan-gives-kedah-edge.html

19 May 2006

Spread knowledge to other places, silat masters urged

19 May 2006, MALAYSIA, Pulau Pinang - SILAT masters in Kampung Kelian in Teluk Bahang, Penang, should venture to other villages to impart their Melayu martial arts knowledge to youngsters.

Finance Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said it would be good if the silat masters could organise classes in other villages.

“This village has many masters, thanks to an initiative taken 30 years ago by mahaguru Datuk Omardin Mauju and the village chief Ahmad Omar to encourage the youths to learn silat lincah,” he said during a meet-the-people session at Kampung Kelian recently.

State Youth and Sports, Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman Datuk Jahara Hamid said more than 700 people had undergone silat training at the village.

Sourced from http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/5/19/north/14120752&sec=north

08 May 2006

SILAT EXPONENT KILLED IN ROAD ACCIDENT

KUALA TERENGGANU, May 8 (Bernama) -- A silat exponent who represented Terengganu in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) was killed when his motorcycle was hit by a car that skidded at a traffic light junction in Gong Badak early this morning

Mohamad Abdilsallam Mohamad Fathil, 18, who died on the way to Kuala Terengganu Hospital (HKT) was said to have failed to stop at the traffic light as the road was slippery, Terengganu Public Order and Traffic Chief Supt Farid Mahmud said today

"A car from Kampung Banggol Air Leleh approaching the junction tried to avoid Fathil but instead it skidded and hit the silat exponent," he told reporters

He said the victim from Kampung Butut, Kuala Berang, succumbed to internal injury. The 24 year-old driver of the car was unhurt

In another accident, two women were killed while the driver was injured when the car they were travelling in collided with a timber lorry at Kampung Sungai Pinang, Sungai Tong, Setiu at 6.45 pm yesterday

Rosnizah Mohd Razali, 20, from Felcra Sungai Temau, Kuala Lipis, Pahang died on the spot while Ruzila Mohd Salleh, 18, from Kuala Lipis, Pahang died at HKT at 9.45 pm

Nik Mohd Khairul Nik Hassan, 24, from the 24th batalion Malay Regiment who was at the wheel injured his head and foot. Farid said the car skidded on to the path of the lorry which was travelling in the opposite direction

Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-148898881/silat-exponent-killed-road.html

06 April 2006

GEORGE TOWN: Schoolchildren, particularly girls, should take up martial arts to protect themselves.

State Youth and Sports Committee chairman Datuk Jahara Hamid said with the rising incidence of violence against women such as rape and snatch theft, martial arts could make women more confident in protecting themselves.

"Women and girls are normally targeted because they are deemed easy victims, thus, learning martial arts is a must nowadays," Jahara said after officiating at a silat lincah demonstration for schools in the State yesterday.

Jahara, who is also president of Pertubuhan Seni Silat Lincah Penang, said traditional martial arts classes had been introduced in 10 schools in the State, including three all-girls secondary schools.

Written by ADIE SURI ZULKEFLI
Sourced from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-144598346/build-confidence-via-martial.html