RUMPUN SILAT SARAWAK IS DEVOTED TO PRESERVE AND STRENGTHEN THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF PENCAK SILAT

KUCHING (9 February): Pencak silat, as it is fondly known in the Malay Archipelago, is a combative art of self-defence and survival that can be traced back to the early days of the Langkasuka Kingdom. Before the advent of guns and cannons, the ancient kingdoms of the Archipelago relied on it to defend themselves against incursions from foreign powers.

Among the hallmarks of pencak silat is the keris, a wavy dagger made of nickel and iron and sheathed in wood. It was the weapon of choice of kings and warriors, and later became a large part of the Malay identity.

Independence rekindled interest in all things pencak silat, and the art form has benefited from this new wave of interest. To promote silat in Malaysia, the National Silat Federation of Malaysia (PESAKA) was established in 1983, and since then pencak silat has evolved into a fine practice of physical and spiritual training that also encompasses traditional Malay attire, musical instruments and customs.

Sarawak, famed for its rich cultural identity, has long been an important centre for pencak silat. The Land of the Hornbills is now ready to raise the bar by hosting the Sarawak Premier International Silat Championship 2023 (SPISC) from 27 February to 5 March at the Kuching Indoor Stadium.

The inaugural championship is organised by Rumpun Silat Sarawak (RSS), whose deputy president, Dato' Mohamad Yusnar Haji Matalie, emphasised the importance of preserving the art form for future generations.

"We at Rumpun Silat Sarawak will forever stay committed to maintaining and promoting this distinguished traditional martial art in the land of Sarawak. Silat is a unique art form in this archipelago, and it is our duty to develop and mould silat exponents from a tender age for the betterment of the cultural heritage of the art form in Malaysia, and specifically Sarawak."

Commenting on the scale of the event, Dato' Mohamad Yusnar said he is determined that SPISC 2023 will be a benchmark for RSS to continue organising annual silat championships in Sarawak.

"RSS wants this tournament to be successful and noteworthy. In fact, we do not wish to make this a one-off tournament, but rather intend to develop the Sarawak Silat Series Championship into a historic and household event for silat in Malaysia.

"I am also excited and honoured to welcome established world-class silat exponents to Bumi Kenyalang next month. I hope the exponents can display world-class combat action while showing high sportsmanship, along with the values a silat exponent should possess," he added.

SPISC 2023 will also feature various programmes by the Sarawak Arts Council to light up the event, including a Pendekar Run and food and cultural festivals. 800 silat exponents from Malaysian states and international contingents such as Indonesia, Singapore, Kyrgyzstan and the United States will vie for supremacy in the junior and open categories, with total prize money of USD20,000 for the overall team champion.