Rokiah Mahmud
Playing traditional games and learning about local dialects indirectly offer knowledge and information to the younger generation about cultural heritage and nation’s identity, said Language and Literature Bureau (DBP) Language Officer Nor Rafidah binti Haji Mokhtar during the Semangat Kebangsaan 2023 Recreational Cycling event in the capital yesterday.
She added that the DBP organised activities to promote traditional games such as ‘terompak cakah’, interactive quizzes about mosques, traditional foods, traditional games, and sahibba or the Malay language scrabble board game.
The event also served as a platform to encourage children to learn more about their cultural heritage. “It is vital for the younger generation as they will pass the knowledge to the future generation,” she added.
Meanwhile, Education Service Officer at the Museums Department Haji Mahrin bin Haji Abas said the department showcased traditional games that can be participated by the public such as pasang, tilu tilan, simban, saluk salukan and congkak, believing that everyone plays a role in preserving the nation’s traditional games.
Meanwhile, Rogayah binti Apong from RPN Kampong Panchor Mengkubau, who played sahibba, said the game stimulates creativity in constructing words.
For Siti Norajimah binti Haji Abu Bakar, learning about the local dialects can provide opportunities for the younger generation to learn about the meanings behind words and phrases as well as their origins. She also shared that these efforts allow the public to “learn about the culture, customs and traditions as well as traditional attire and way of life of each ethnic group in the country”.
