Coordinating Minister For Human Development And Culture Hopes Riau Islands Malay Culture Becomes Mandatory Exkul In Schools

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy opened a regional cultural week activity at the Setangan Tugu Sirih, Tanjungpinang City, Riau Islands, Thursday (21/9/2023) night. (Ogen)

TANJUNGPINANG - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK), Muhadjir Effendy, hopes that the Malay culture, such as the presentation dance to pencak silat, will become extracurricular and must schools in the Riau Islands Province (Kepri).

He conveyed this after seeing the appearance of the pencak silat culture and the betel-eating dance or the offerings displayed by young people when opening a regional cultural week at the Tugu Sirih Court, Tanjungpinang City, Riau Islands, Thursday (21/9).

"I am very happy to see the cultural appearance of the Riau Islands youth tonight. This activity can become extracurricular in schools," said Muhadjir Effendy in his remarks reported by ANTARA, Thursday, September 21.

That way, he said, in the future no students in Riau Islands should not be able to pray and dance to welcome guests, because it is a source of ethical and aesthetic taste that must be planted early on to the younger generation.

According to him, when ethics and aesthetics grow well, manners will also grow well.

"If we are able to maintain ethics and aesthetics well, then we will become plenary people in the future," he said

Muhadjir also appreciated the implementation of the regional cultural week held by the Riau Islands Provincial Government and its ranks as an effort to advance and preserve local culture.

According to him, the cultural week is in line with the 1945 Constitution Article 32 and Law Number 5 2017 concerning the Advancement of Culture.

In addition, he also praised the Riau Islands Provincial Government for being able to hold a regional cultural week by relying on the APBD, without submitting budget assistance to the Central Government.

This, he continued, became an extraordinary step and was welcomed by the central government, especially the Ministry for Human Development and Culture.

"We are very proud to appreciate the great idea of the Governor and all ranks who have held periodic regional cultural weeks," said Muhadjir.

The regional cultural week activity was held on September 21-23, 2023 in order to enliven the 21st Anniversary of the Riau Islands Province on September 24, 2023.

During the three-day cultural week performances, there are four main events that the public can enjoy, namely performance arts performances, cultural exhibitions, workshops and painting competitions, and game competitions and traditional sports.

Some of the performing arts that will be displayed are the Mendu Theater, Noble Theater, Traditional Silat, Natuna Spider Zapin, and Gazal.

In addition, this event also involved three museums in Riau Islands Province for cultural exhibitions. The three perverted are the Sultan Sulaiman Baddrul Alamsyah Museum, the Light Linggam Museum, and the Bintan Maritime Museum.

Then, there is also the appearance of participants from friendly countries, namely the Sriwana performing art group from Singapore, Era Dance Singapore, and artists from Selangor, Malaysia.