PONTIAN: Umno will continue doing its part to keep Malay culture and traditions such as silat alive, says Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
The Umno supreme council member said this was in line with the party's constitution, which emphasises preserving Malay culture and tradition.
"Umno will continue to make sure that silat, an important element of the Malay tradition, will be kept alive. If not us, who else?
"That is why in the party's constitution, it is stated that we will fight to make sure that all Malay culture is protected and maintained.
"Even in our party flag and logo, we have the keris, which is also a symbol of the Malay tradition," he told reporters after officiating at the Johor Silat Festival 2023 at Dataran Dato Jalok here on Friday (Sept 15).
Ahmad, who is also Deputy Finance Minister and Pontian MP, said he had allocated RM50,000 to support the festival here.
"I hope other leaders in Johor will also do the same and support such festivals in their respective areas.
"I will be allocating another RM50,000 to fix or set up five silat arenas in Pontian," he said, adding that the arenas are expected to be ready this year.
