McFeeters (second right) and Dr Razli (left) watching Kampung Laut Rebana Kercing Association advisor Harun Hassan (second left) beating the rebana kercing during the closing ceremony of the conservation project on Jan 4. – BERNAMApic
BACHOK: The US Embassy has channelled US$250,000 (RM1.1mil) in Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) grants to Malaysia from 2001 to last year.
US Ambassador to Malaysia Brian McFeeters said the grant is aimed at supporting research and preservation of cultural heritage in the country.
"Efforts made since 2001 include studies and research on the art of rebana kercing in Kelantan and preservation of traditional performances such as wayang kulit and menora.
"The Embassy is paying attention to... elevating heritage and culture so that they continue to be recognised in the community, while also strengthening local as well as global ties," he told a press conference at the closing of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) rebana kercing drum conservation project here on Wednesday (Jan 4).
Also present at the ceremony was UMK vice-chancellor Profesor Datuk Dr Razli Che Razak
On rebana kercing, McFeeters said he admired the talent of more than 100 students, aged 10 and above, from several schools in Kelantan who were able to master the cultural performance art.
"Their effort is one of the desired results in the step towards conservation," he said.
Meanwhile, Razli said the RM200,000 rebana kercing research project involved a total of 27 UMK researchers and employees.
"This research was aimed at preserving the performance art which is believed to have started 150 years ago in Kampung Laut, Tumpat.
"The research project has resulted in various achievements and successes including two books as a result of the research and conservation of the art," he said.
He said the books to be published are a 180-page book titled Rebana Kercing Kampung Laut: Preservation of the Art and a 90-page coffee-table book titled The Preservation of Rebana Kercing: The Journey.
He said the contents of the books, written by UMK reseachers from various fields of specialisation, would cover the current state of the performance art, its history, the rebana kercing association, instruments, dance, costumes and activists.
"The content of the coffee-table book presents visuals of conservation efforts including interviews, field work and the digitisation of training and cultural performances of rebana kercing through the AFCP project.
"A 13-episode short documentary, Rebana Kercing: The Dying Art, will be aired on RTM soon," he added. – Bernama
