| Achong Tanjong |
THE ‘Pantun’ is a traditional Malay literature genre that has evolved globally, especially in the archipelago, since hundreds of years ago.
Pantun is an artistic symbol of wisdom in the Malay Archipelago. It is often used as a means of communication, and synonymous with the thinking and culture of the Malay Archipelago.
In some areas of the Malay world, it is part of life in the society, where basic values are manifested in proverbs, prayers, weddings, art, and traditional philosophy.
These comments were made by Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil, at the opening of the third ‘Empowering Malay Archipelago Seminar / Workshop / Mastera Pantun Festival 2018’, held at Sarmayuda Hall of the Language and Literature Bureau (DBP) yesterday under the theme ‘Melestari Budaya Pantun’.
But now, she said, Pantun has become part of the international literary community. It has been developing in some European and North American countries such as England, Netherlands, Germany, France, the United States and Canada since the 19th Century. It is known as the Pantoum.
She said, “The phenomena of Pantun has been widely developed and is part of the international literature – and not a local literary tradition dominated by the Malay Archipelago. Nevertheless, it belongs to the Malay Archipelago. We must strive to reinforce the civilisation of the nation through promoting pantun as a source of tradition.”
To promote Pantun, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports through the Language and Literature Bureau has published several books that contain traditional and contemporary Pantun collections, she noted, adding that the DBP Research, Documentation and Recognition Section has undertaken the local research and collection of Pantun found in Borneo Island.
The programme to empower Malay Archipelago Pantun is one of the positive steps to help enliven several of the literary traditional heritages that are slowly being forgotten.
“We must foster the spirit of appreciation and love the cultural heritage that has become our identity,” she said.
She hoped that Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore will continue to organise activities to promote Pantun. The permanent secretary expressed her appreciation to all the seminar participants and hoped that they could promote Pantun and conserve it as a valuable national heritage.
Meanwhile, Hajah Sariani binti Haji Ishak, Acting Director of DBP in her speech said the project aims to enliven the culture revealed in Pantun and show it as the manifestation of the life of Malays.
She said the seminar gathered all the Pantun experts from Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.
“It gives an opportunity to all participants, especially the young generation to deepen their knowledge of the field,” she added.
The seminar also coincided with a three–day workshop from March 1-3 and the Pantun Festival.