The efforts of the Language and Literature Bureau (DBP) in empowering the Malay language through the Malay culture can be seen in programmes and activities lined up, involving all segments of society across different age groups in the country, said its acting director Hajah Haireni binti Haji Damit.
She also said projects that drive public awareness and appreciation for preserving, maintaining and disseminating the national heritage and legacy, such as pantun, have been implemented, through the Brunei Malay Pantun Festival that ends today.
The festival is organised by the DBP through Research, Documentation and Recognition Division at the DBP premises.
Legislative Council (LegCo) member Yang Berhormat Abdul Aziz bin Haji Hamdan officiated the festival and hand over a book, ‘Babatan Pantun Melayu’, to representatives from each district and writers as well as certificates to strategic partners.
The festival serves as a platform to promote the publication of ‘Babatan Pantun Melayu Brunei’.
The book launched yesterday, comprised pantun collected from the Brunei Malay Pantun Research Project in Brunei Darussalam and the Research Project on its Dissemination in the Borneo Island, carried out from 2016 to 2021.
The festival serves to secure Brunei Malay Pantun’s nomination in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Among the activities lined up for the festival include a 10-minute book reading, a pencak silat performance staged by the Brunei Darussalam Pencak Silat Federation (PERSIB) and a skit by the Putra Seni Group. – Rokiah Mahmud
