KUCHING (Dec 28): The inaugural hosting of ‘Festival Jabat Sejagat’ signifies the joint efforts by several silat schools in upholding this martial art of the Malay Archipelago.

Co-organised by the Perguruan (School) of Seni Silat Betawi, Perguruan Seni Silat Makrifat and Perguruan Seni Silat Hidayah Melayu, with full support from Rumpun Silat Sarawak, the two-day event is taking place at Telekom Malaysia (TM) Sarawak Hub, along Jalan Sultan Tengah here.

The main programme comprises an archery challenge, a multi-disciplinary silat battle and also a ‘melastik’ (slingshot) competition.

Additionally, the organisers also hold an exhibition displaying traditional ‘keris’ (traditional wavy-blade dagger), ‘parang’ (machetes) and other traditional weaponry, as well as woodcarving and other traditional crafts.

According to Mohammad Firdouz Sazali, 42, the festival is open to everyone regardless of age, gender, and other social backgrounds.

“Although the silat and archery events are by invitation only, the ‘melastik’ competition is open for all. Anyone can register, and if they’re good at it, they get to win prizes,” he said when met at the festival ground earlier today.

Mohammad Firdouz, who had been a silat practitioner since he was 16, said the core objective was to introduce a silat competition format called ‘pasak’, which upholds the true play of any silat school.

“We have not seen silat pasak in Malaysia so far, but in Brunei, there is this version called ‘silat cakak’, which we can see being performed before the Sultan of Brunei on His Majesty’s birthday.

“What silat pasak represents is the authentic moves and styles peculiar to each ‘perguruan’, and not the same as the standardised format for national and international tournaments.

“Nevertheless, the silat battle for this festival still includes the more well-known ‘silat olahraga’ and ‘silat seni’,” he said.

Additionally, Mohammad Firdouz said the hosting of the ‘melastik’ and archery competitions was intended at re-introducing these games to the community, especially today’s youths, some of whom might not be familiar with them.

“In today’s modern era, it is easy to overlook the relevance of our heritage, but without it, we would not have a recognisable identity.

“Thus, it is vital to keep our heritage alive and well, for us to pass it down to the future generations,” he said.

Adding on, Mohammad Firdouz said this festival could also foster closer ties among representatives of the ‘perguruan’ and other associations, and also with the local community.

He said for this maiden hosting, the organisers received assistance from Kelab Memanah RSPT, Kelab Peminat Lastik Kuching, dan Ahbab El Habib-Qasidah in running the archery, slingshot and ‘qasidah’ (performance of song of praise) activities.

However, he and his team also hoped that Festival Jabat Sejagat would be included in ‘Sarawak’s Calendar of Events’ by the time of its next edition.

“This edition may not be a grand one yet, but we are hosting participants from Peninsular Malaysia, Brunei and Kalimantan in archery, which involves both men and women.

“In silat, it involves exponents representing a number of ‘perguruan’ from all across Sarawak, while the ‘melastik’ competition registers many locals,” he said.

It is informed that the silat battle gathers more than 250 competitors, while the archery and ‘melastik’ competitions welcome over 100 participants each.