KUCHING: Lion and dragon dance troupes in Sarawak truly epitomise the 1Malaysia concept as they comprise multi-racial members doing dance routines deeply associated with the Chinese culture.
DOTTING THE LION’S EYE: Sng dutifully abides by a requirement of the Chinese culture.
Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department, Larry Sng, said the fact this can be found in the state should be cherished by all Sarawakians.
“Here, the Chinese do not celebrate this joyous occa-sion alone. Often you find dragon or lion dancers performing during Chinese New Year and the performers are from various races.
“Don’t be surprised that they even speak a Chinese dialect as many of them are educated in Chinese medium schools,” he said when attending a Chinese New Year show held by Nanyang Wushu Association of Sarawak at Crowne Square last Sunday night.
Sng, who is also Assistant Minister of Youth Affairs, also dotted the lion’s eye, which is a Chinese custom.
He also encouraged the younger generation to take up such cultural performances as a hobby.
Apart from lion dance, he mentioned the dances of other races such as ‘ngajat’.
“This is so that Sarawa-kian youths can gain deeper insight into their cultural roots and learn other cultures in the process,” he said.
Honorary president of Nanyang Wushu Federation of Sarawak Tan Poh Seng, its chairman Professor Dr Song Swee Hee were also present at the event.
Song, in his speech, said he was worried about some youths who tended to stay away from these cultural activities which they considered were “too old”.
Song assured that no matter how hard and challenging it was to retain and foster the traditional Chinese cultures like wushu, the federation would still work hard to drive the association’s objectives and mission. Song also said the cultural activities were beneficial to the youths who got groomed to have proper personalities besides keeping their bodies fit.