National laureate Datuk A. Samad Said speaks during the launching of 'Young & Malay' and 'Merdeka for the Mind' at Rumah Gerak Budaya in Petaling Jaya. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, September 19, 2015.
Silat is now a symbol of Malay fear and no longer represents the community's art of combat, said national laureate Datuk A. Samad Said today, days after the National Silat Federation (Pesaka) organised the controversial 'red shirt' rally in Kuala Lumpur.
"Silat is now a national treasure (khazanah), that can only be used for demonstration purposes," the DAP member said while launching a book titled "Young and Malay" in Petaling Jaya today.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday officiated Pesaka's AGM and went on to defend the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu rally.
"It's no longer used for self defence, because nowadays we seldom fight one-on-one. Even if we do, I think there won't be enough time to take out a keris (Malay dagger)," he said, speaking of the traditional Malay self defence art.
"For me, symbolically, it now just expresses the Malay fear," he added.
The rally was held on September 16 to uphold what the group described as Malay dignity, and as a counter to the Bersih 4 rally held two weeks prior.
Pak Samad also said that Malays of the current generation must stop seeing themselves as just Malays and instead see themselves as Malaysians.
- TMI
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