Silat Cekak, a Malay martial art, is now taught in Sydney, Australia, as part of efforts to preserve and promote the cultural heritage internationally.
ALOR SETAR: The development of Silat Cekak in Sydney, Australia, demonstrates that this Malay martial art can be taught to all groups regardless of religion, race or culture.
Persatuan Silat Cekak Malaysia (PSSCM) president and chief instructor Datuk Maideen Kadir Shah said expanding the art internationally is a key mission to elevate Malay culture and preserve heritage knowledge.
“Anyone can learn Silat Cekak… but the syllabus isn’t the same because silat has religious aspects. But we’ve already done it, we have classes in Sydney, Australia,” he told reporters at a demonstration programme here.
The event marked the 60th anniversary of Silat Cekak and was officiated by Kedah Tourism, Culture and Entrepreneurship Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Salleh Saidin.
Approximately 3,000 PSSCM members from across the country attended the programme, which featured various silat performances and chronicled the art’s six-decade journey.
Maideen said the diamond jubilee celebration serves as a platform to introduce the martial art to the younger generation and visitors.
He highlighted the success of the Tunas Cekak Programme, established in 2022, which has trained nearly 1,000 students as young as seven nationwide.
“Our syllabus is adapted so that children can learn without having to wait until they are 16 years old,” he said.
The discipline and moral values taught in silat classes are carried into students’ homes and schools, he added.
To date, the Tunas Cekak programme has been implemented in 34 schools across the country.
Meanwhile, Mohd Salleh said the state government fully supports PSSCM’s efforts to elevate the heritage art through its values of discipline, morals and culture.
