SINGAPORE – This yr’s Bulan Bahasa or Malay Language Month actions will embrace a collection of on-line periods to assist individuals, specifically non-Malays, be taught extra about Malay tradition and heritage.
Jom Belajar, or Let’s Be taught, will clarify matters like Malay meals, clothes, wedding ceremony traditions and Hari Raya celebrations in English, and is one in all a number of programmes organised by Wisma Geylang Serai (WGS) for the annual occasion.
The periods might be held over video conferencing platform Zoom as soon as a month from September to December, with the primary beginning this Saturday (Sept 18).
Geylang Serai was traditionally a Malay settlement, and WGS is a civic and cultural centre that goals to rejoice its heritage and encourage bonding between the completely different races. It’s one in all a number of group companions internet hosting BulanBahasa actions.
WGS additionally hosted a number of performing arts workshops for kids throughout the college holidays final week, and can launch a collection of 5 books on the historical past of Geylang Serai later this month.
Talking to reporters final Thursday (Sept 9), Minister of State for Dwelling Affairs and Nationwide Growth Faishal Ibrahim mentioned the programmes purpose to assist younger individuals get a greater understanding of Malay tradition.
“Though the proportion of our group that’s bilingual stays excessive, efforts to protect the language, tradition and Malay literature needs to be continued, particularly for the youthful technology,” he mentioned.
Whereas many Malay youngsters are in a position to converse each English and their mom tongue, the proportion of Malay youngsters getting into Main One who converse largely English at house is just like the opposite communities – at round 70 per cent.
Bulan Bahasa chairman Rahayu Mahzam mentioned on the launch of the month on Sept 4: “Households could also be utilizing extra English at dwelling. Nevertheless, this doesn’t imply that the usage of the Malay language is languishing. Many Malay households are successfully bilingual and do proceed to make use of the Malay language at dwelling, and we hope to strengthen this in future.
Ms Rahayu, who’s Parliamentary Secretary for Communications and Data, in addition to Well being, added: “With the assistance of our group companions, we’ll proceed to work in the direction of a group that continues to see the worth of the Malay language as a part of their day by day lives.”
The opposite programmes embrace performances showcasing Malay poetry and dance, in addition to workshops for kids on conventional arts like bangsawan. Bangsawan is a conventional artwork type that mixes components of poetry, theatre, dance and music into an operatic stage manufacturing.
Samudera Seni, one of many performances, is produced by native playwright Almahdi Al-Haj Ibrahim, higher generally known as Nadiputra. He was lately recognised with the Stewards of Intangible Cultural Heritage award by the Nationwide Heritage Board for his contributions to Malay arts over the previous 50 years.
Mentioned Mr Almahdi: “I hope each the Malay and non-Malay group usually get to know the Malay language and its utilization higher, and perceive the completely different features of Malay tradition.”
For extra particulars, go to the Malay Language Council, Singapore web site at mbms.sg, or observe its social media platforms at fb.com/majlisbahasa or @BulanBahasa on Instagram.
