MELAKA – A clip of the leading character in the movie Mat Kilau, played by actor Datuk Mohamed Hadi Putera Halim, better known as Adi Putra, at the opening ceremony of the 19th World Pencak Silat Championships, last night brought the house down.
The Melaka International Trade Centre Hall roared with cheers from over 500 participants originating from 40 countries who are taking part in the five-day competition, which started yesterday.
The actor’s monologue, which was quoted from the film, was delivered with enthusiasm right after the event was declared open by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam.
Earlier, Malaysian National Silat Federation (Pesaka) president Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin said silat played a big role in ensuring the nation’s culture is recognised around the world.
He said the prestigious championship is the best platform to promote the archipelago’s Malay culture to the outside world, with hundreds of thousands of members in Europe, Central Asia, East Asia and Africa.
“Once only a combat art in the archipelago, silat has gained world recognition with the involvement of foreign countries such as the United States, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom.
“Silat is an art that has no end. It is very open to being explored and learned all the time,” he said in his welcome speech at the opening ceremony.
He said that silat not only educates its participants to defend themselves, but it also shapes one’s identity and symbolises moral values, as well as a unique and distinctive civilisation.
In the meantime, the opening ceremony was also enlivened with a silat demonstration by the participants and the presence of former world champions who once made Malaysia famous in the tournament.
Meanwhile, International Pencak Silat Federation president Prabowo Subianto said it is the hope of the sport’s governing body to bring pencak silat to the Olympic Games in the future.
“I wish the championships every success in the spirit of brotherhood and the spirit of sportsmanship, and at last all could work together to see pencak silat competing in the world arena of the Olympic Games in the future,” he said.
Among the countries participating in this championship are Malaysia as the host, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, the United States, India and Canada.
Also present were Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali, Pesaka honorary advisor Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Olympic Council of Malaysia president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria. – Bernama, July 27, 2022
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