Malay Civilisation Day not meant to rival Bon Odori

 

The Malay Civilisation Day planned for July 30 was not a response to the Bon Odori events held recently.

Islam Defenders' Associations (Pembela) chairperson Aminuddin Yahaya said the Malay Civilisation Day was planned long before, and its goal was to revive Malay culture.

"It is a coincidence that Bon Odori was held (last weekend). That's all. The Malay Civilisation Day is not a gathering but a festival, similar to Jom Heboh, more or less.

"Bon Odori was not a gathering or a protest either. (Our event) is to remind (the public) of Malay culture through silat, gasing, puisi and sajak.

"(Our event) will also help (the Malays) economically through the sales of busana, tanjak and keris," he told Malaysiakini.

Aminuddin was elaborating on his Facebook post two days ago where he promoted the Malay Civilisation Day event while condemning Bon Odori events.

At the time, Aminuddin argued that Bon Odori was foreign and contained elements which experts considered un-Islamic.

However, Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah disagreed and backed a Bon Odori event which was held at Shah Alam.

Meanwhile, Aminuddin explained that the Malay Civilisation Day event would include an Islamic exhibition with artefacts never seen before.

"For example, Malays were great seafarers with sailing vessels that were better than the West (at a time).

"People don't know that nor the fact that Malay tin miners were very famous before the arrival of Chinese miners," he said.

Another highlight of the event, he said, will be the silat exhibition which will involve the producers and actors from the hit film "Mat Kilau".

"We will also have dance performances, but not those nonsense dances, but Malay dances," he said.

He believed that the event would even draw tourists.

Aminuddin assured that the event was not racist in nature but instead was a celebration of Malay culture. - Mkini