Pelangai, let the fight begin

BENTONG: The battle for the Pelangai state seat will see a duel among “fighters” who know a thing or two about silat.

Barisan Nasional candidate Datuk Amizar Abu Adam, who learned silat in Pelangai here, faces Perikatan Nasional candidate Kasim Samat, who is the chairman of the Pahang chapter of the National Malaysian Silat Gayong Association (PSSGMK).

The Pelangai by-election on Saturday also involves an Independent candidate, Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli.

Bentong district PSSGMK chairman Ahmad Tajuddin Othman said silat was very popular in Pelangai, with more then 2,000 students attending classes every weekend in five courts here.

He said the demand from the people of Pelangai to learn silat was so high that the trainers were unable to provide enough classes.

“Demand is so high that there are parents who have asked for private lessons like tuition classes at home, but we can’t accept them because we don’t have enough trainers.

“Most of our trainers are actually civil servants, so they have limited time and only have time to teach on weekends,” he told Bernama at the Kampung Chemomoi Silat Arena here.

Ahmad Tajuddin, 55, who has been practising the art of silat for 38 years, aspires for every village in Pelangai and Bentong district to have at least one silat court.

“For that, we need to produce more coaches who are able to run their own courts.

“We also hope that the government will continue to help all silat associations throughout the country because we do not have a large source of income and need financial assistance,” he said.

According to him, the Malays, especially the younger generation, needed to learn silat to protect the culture and heritage of the country, adding that the martial art also helped build character and confidence in each student.The silat courts in the Pelangai constituency witnessed extraordinary development following the screening of the film Mat Kilau last year.

Meanwhile, Norarisan Ahmad, 45, the mother of a silat student, said she sent her 12-year-old son to learn self-defence because she wanted him to increase his self-confidence.

“My son used to be really shy to mix around with people previously. But, Alhamdulilah, after he learned silat, he has become more mature and brave,” she said.

She said that martial arts training had also provided some physical fitness to her son who used to only be engrossed in playing video games.