KUCHING: The sape, or sampe, the traditional lute of the Orang Ulu community of Sarawak, has been chosen to be featured at the Asian Games Museum in Hangzhou, China, among other cultural crafts from Malaysia.
Proton Edar Sdn Bhd deputy marketing and network support director Steven Zhou Qi said the national automotive company is driving the initiative to promote the traditional musical instrument globally as part of its effort to boost Malaysia’s tourism sector post-Covid-19.
"We want to be the bridge, so, we organise events that not only promote the spirit of Asian Games but also local products that can be broadcast internationally and will result in more international tourists coming to Malaysia,” he told a press conference after the Sarawak edition of the Asian Games Nation Drive here, Sunday (Aug 21).
He said the traditional lute will be displayed alongside other cultural crafts from every state in Malaysia, which will be selected through a voting process on Proton’s social media channels.
He said the first edition of the programme was held in Sabah and the next edition will be held in the peninsula.
The two-day programme was held in conjunction with the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 to take place from Sept 23 to Oct 8, of which Proton has been named as one of the official vehicle brands.
At the event, Sarawakian boxer Daeloniel McDelon Bong handed over a sape replica carved in wood, which embodies the Asian Games’ essence namely unity, sportsmanship, shared values and cultural exchange, to Proton.
The 24-year-old Sri Aman native, nicknamed "Kilat Boy", said the opportunity to showcase the Sarawak sape on the international stage is an honour for the local communities in the state that is known for its diversity and racial harmony. - Bernama
