BERA: Traditional games and "sukan rakyat" (people sports) need to be consistently promoted to ensure they remain relevant, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said games and sports have the potential to emerge as tourist attractions in certain locations and should be preserved as a cultural heritage.
"The young appear to forget traditional games and people sports which were once played extensively at certain places. Providing financial assistance and proper facilities will make it easier for Motac (Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture) to promote these activities.
"The efforts include organising more programmes at district-levels and this should not only involve the official events organised by the ministry. Instead, the local authorities at district levels should promote it as a weekly event," he told reporters during a press conference after opening the Keluarga Malaysia Hogoh Bera 2021 community programme at Felda Kumai in Triang near here today.
On the budget to organise such programmes, Ismail Sabri said he had asked Motac to discuss with the Finance Minister (Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz) on the expenditures needed to organise such activities.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri, who is the Bera member of parliament, said traditional games and people sports can be promoted extensively by ensuring proper or systematic planning.
"Once the activities (traditional games and people sports) are regularly held at a fixed location then it will be able to attract more visitors including domestic tourists. For example, traditional games like galah panjang can be held at a specific site during weekends.
"Besides the games and sports, cultural performance have to be regularly organised so visitors will be able to learn about local cultures. For example in Bera, the Sewang dance (traditional Orang Asli dance) can be organised every week at Laman Kerayong so visitors who want to learn more about the Orang Asli culture can go there," he said, adding cultural organisations can participate by organising the shows.
He said actively promoting traditional games and people sports will serve as a crowd puller at a certain location which will help boost tourism activities.
On the two-day Keluarga Malaysia Hogoh Bera 2021 community programme here. Ismail Sabri said besides promoting the popular cultural performance, games and people sports, the event also helped to promote top tourist destinations here including Tasik Bera.
In his speech earlier, he said homestay operators can organise cultural performances when visitors book to stay at their respective premises.
"There must be added-value and this has to be done consistently. Besides promoting local food, operators can also organise cultural shows or traditional games..... I am sure it will serve as an attraction," he said
Also present were Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri and Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.
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