A Truly Malay Night at Pulau Misa Melayu, Bota

Like being in the golden age of the Malacca Sultanate, that is what the orangperak.com representative felt while at Pulau Misa Melayu, Bota.

Seeing all the attendees dressed in traditional Malay attire was truly mesmerizing and sparked a sense of pride. In this article, orangperak.com wants to take readers deeper into the Pulau Misa Melayu Cultural Heritage Village, Teluk Kepayang, Bota. On April 1, 2017, orangperak.com was invited to attend the 'Malam Melayu Sejati' event at the Pulau Misa Melayu Cultural Heritage Village, Teluk Kepayang, Bota.

It was clearly a new experience for the orangperak.com representative to be in a village that truly practices the lifestyle, dress, and culture of the ancient Malay people. Being at Pulau Misa Melayu is symbolic, as its location is not far from the first administrative center of the Perak Sultanate, which is

Tanah Abang

. The event on that Saturday began early in the morning with traditional Malay sports, including coconut grating, congkak, batu seremban, and tug-of-war. The event was attended by residents of Kampung Teluk Kepayang, residents of Kampung Pulau Misa Melayu, students from Universiti Teknologi Petronas, the Kuala Kangsar and Lubuk Merbau Malay Traditional Costume Heritage Culture and Arts Association, and the Teluk Kepayang Youth Legacy group. The judges for the competition were representatives from the Kuala Kangsar Malay Traditional Costume Heritage Culture and Arts Association.

At night, the highlight of the 'Malam Melayu Sejati' took place, attended by a representative of the President of the Malaysian Tourism Association, the Director of the Perak State National Civics Bureau, and a delegation from the Dendang Anak Indonesia Association. Officiated by a representative of the Chief Minister of Malacca, the honored guests were treated to a reception style reminiscent of ancient nobility, escorted to the grand hall by spear-wielding warriors and presented with betel leaves and areca nuts as a sign of respect. Attendees were then treated to traditional Malay songs, dances, and silat performances. This was followed by a lucky draw and the presentation of prizes to the winners of the traditional sports held earlier in the day, with prizes sponsored by the Perak State National Civics Bureau.

Located on the left bank of the Perak River near Kampung Teluk Kepayang, Bota, the Pulau Misa Melayu Cultural Heritage Village was established through the vision and efforts of the founder of the Malaysian Nusantara Malay Culture and Music Association (Dendang Anak), Tuan Zulkifli Bin Ismail, as early as 1992. After witnessing many youths involved in drug addiction and other unhealthy activities, he initiated this effort on a personal level. Community acceptance and the success of his efforts have contributed to the current development. The association's main activities include drug rehabilitation and addressing social issues, while also producing musicians focused on Nusantara rhythms.

The Malaysian Nusantara Malay Culture and Music Association (Dendang Anak) has made various efforts to empower Malay cultural heritage and position it as a core pillar to bring Malay culture to the world stage. Dendang Anak has also brought Malaysia's name and Malay culture to the global stage by representing Malaysia at the Nusantara Drum Festival since 2008, the World Music Festival, and The International Festival For Drums and Traditional Arts Performance in Cairo, Egypt, in April 2016. Dendang Anak also performed at the Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur, in conjunction with Malaysia's 2016 National Day celebrations. The core of Dendang Anak's efforts is based on the pillars of the Malay nation to empower Malay cultural heritage: RELIGION IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE NATION, LANGUAGE IS THE SOUL OF THE NATION, CULTURE IS THE BODY OF THE NATION, CUSTOMS ARE THE DIGNITY OF THE NATION. The purpose and objectives of the Malaysian Nusantara Malay Culture and Music Association (Dendang Anak) are as follows:

1. To introduce Malay culture and heritage to the community, especially the youth and children.
2. To raise awareness of the importance of living, preserving, and maintaining Malay culture and heritage.
3. To enrich Malay culture and heritage.
4. To unite the Malay nation through Malay culture.
5. To elevate Malay cultural heritage on the international and global stage.
6. So that "The Malay shall not vanish from the earth".

The Malaysian Nusantara Malay Culture and Music Association (Dendang Anak) has branches in Terengganu, Selangor, Perak, and has also expanded its cultural wings to the Riau Islands, Indonesia. The Perak Darul Ridzuan branch is the 3rd branch after Terengganu and Selangor. Active in Malay cultural programs in Perak, the activities of the Dendang Anak Perak branch are centered at the Pulau Misa Melayu Cultural Heritage Village, Kg. Teluk Kepayang Bota Kiri, Perak Darul Ridzuan. The Dendang Anak Perak Darul Ridzuan branch is led by Tuan Mior Yazid Bin Abdul Manaf as the President. Dendang Anak hopes that the Pulau Misa Melayu Cultural Heritage Village will become a reference point for Nusantara Malay Cultural Heritage and be listed in the Malaysian and Nusantara Tourism Calendar. Dendang Anak regularly organizes a Weekly Cultural Program at the Pulau Misa Melayu Cultural Heritage Village every Saturday starting at 9:00 PM, known as the "Malam Melayu Sejati" program.

It is open to all levels of society free of charge. It is usually visited by local residents, NGOs, and Malay cultural and silat practitioners who join in the night dressed in complete Malay attire, including tanjak, sampin, bengkung, and keris. Those who have attended the "Malam Melayu Sejati" say it feels like being in the 15th century during the golden age of the Malacca Sultanate. On that night, attendees are treated to cultural performances, dances, songs, and Malay silat. Dendang Anak also organizes annual programs such as the 'Malam Silat Melayu Sejati' and the School Holiday Cultural Program. The 'Malam Silat Melayu Sejati' program has been attended by more than 30 silat schools and organizations across Perak, gathering to perform the heritage of Malay Silat. The School Holiday Cultural Program has successfully gathered more than 200 children of Dendang Anak members from Perak, Terengganu, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang, Malacca, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, and Sabah, who camped at the Pulau Misa Melayu Village. Children participating in this program are exposed to Malay culture such as dance, silat, and recreational exercises, and learn the lifestyle of the ancient Malays who lived in consensus and cooperation. They are guided and learn about Malay culture and music while instilling a spirit of love for the Nation and Religion.

The management and administration of the Pulau Misa Melayu Cultural Heritage Village follow the methods and customs practiced in ancient Malay villages, using Malay noble titles such as Paduka, Temenggung, Penghulu, Tok Sidang, Tok Kelana, Tok Demang, Tok Lingga, Tok Bentara, Orang Kaya Kaya, and various other 'Tok' titles used within this village. All residents in this village use the pronouns Hamba, Tuan Hamba, Kekanda, and Adinda when speaking. This heritage village is always a gathering place and a source of inspiration for the establishment of Malay costume heritage associations in Perak, including those in Kuala Kangsar, Lubuk Merbau, Sg Siput, Gopeng, Kampar, Beruas, and Ipoh.

The efforts of the Dendang Anak Association caught the attention of the Chief Minister of Perak, Datuk Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir, during his recent visit to the Perak Tengah Settlement Program 2017, as well as YB Dato’ Nolee Ashilin Binti Mohammed Radzi, as the Chairperson of the Tourism, Culture, Arts, Communications and Multimedia Committee, who also serves as the President of the Perak State Cultural Council under the National Department for Culture and Arts, who has helped promote Dendang Anak both domestically and internationally.

If readers have any questions regarding events to be held at the Pulau Misa Melayu Cultural Heritage Village in Bota, you may contact Encik Has Rizal Hamsan @ Megat Rizal, who is also the Secretary of the Malaysian Nusantara Malay Culture and Music Association (Dendang Anak) Perak Darul Ridzuan branch, at 011-10600431. Let us work together to uphold Malay cultural heritage so that it is not lost to time.