Steady now: Visitors to the festival trying their hand at traditional and interactive archery. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Traditional games and community sports across the diverse ethnic landscape of Malaysia are put under the spotlight again with the Malaysian Games Festival @ Kuala Lumpur 2024 (FPM@KL 2024) in full swing.
With the four-day event set to draw a turnout of 150,000, the ninth edition of the festival will continue its quest for promoting communication and interaction among the multiracial people of Malaysia and encouraging them to take part in outdoor activities.
Speaking after the opening ceremony of the event yesterday, National Culture and Arts Department director-general Mohd Amran Mohd Haris noted that many social activities in the past had started with games but children nowadays were less inclined towards outdoor activities.
“This festival brings together schools, businesses, groups and NGOs and bridges the gap between them,” he said.
FPM@KL 2024 is on at Dataran Merdeka here until today.
Traditional sports and games featured include tug-of-war, pole climbing, tin throwing, batu Seremban, traditional and interactive archery, blowpipe events and a slingshot competition.
FPM@KL 2024 also boasts an international rope-pulling competition with clubs from Brunei, Taiwan and Singapore, alongside 60 local clubs from across Malaysia.
“Exhibitions, product sales, and games from Sabah, Sarawak and the indigenous communities will also be showcased, in addition to competitions, demonstrations and performances.
“The Indian community has introduced us to the game of kabaddi. Last year, we included the Penang chingay parade. This year, we have added lion dance and Chinese chess,” said Mohd Amran.
The department, which is under the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, is organising the event in collaboration with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and Traditional Sports Association of Malaysia.
The ministry’s deputy secretary-general (culture) Datuk Mohd Yusri Mohd Yusoff said by the year 2022, 28 types of traditional Malaysian games had been officially declared national heritage.
“Most traditional games are played in groups to foster social interaction and strengthen relationships within the community,” Mohd Yusri said in his opening speech.
Last year, the FPM@KL recorded an attendance of 120,000 people, with 11,500 of them being foreign tourists, and generated takings of about RM2mil among the vendors.
