Sharifah Hasidah delivering her speech. — Photos by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: Social media and modern apps can help to showcase the unique culture that is abundant in Sarawak, opined Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.
Speaking at the ‘Samarindok Persembahan Kebudayaan Melayu Sarawak 2020’ first series held at the GoDown Amphitheatre at Waterfront Kuching here, Sharifah Hasidah said that holding events that showcase the state’s culture was not enough anymore and social media and modern apps could help to reach a wider audience.
“While I hope that activities like this (Samarindok) can be done from time to time, there are more ways for us to preserve our unique culture and show it to the rest of the world. We can turn to social media and modern apps to reach a wider audience globally,” she said.
The Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring) added that Sarawak’s culture was not the only thing that could be showcased to the world.
One of the group’s Gendang Melayu Sarawak performance on Saturday night.
“We can also show them our unity and harmony; for example, when our diverse races meet and mingle together harmoniously. I believe that these are things that are uniquely Sarawakian and can be shown to the rest of the world,” Sharifah Hasidah pointed out.
She called on more youths to get involved in cultural activities, as they would be the next generation to carry the culture and tradition forward.
The ‘Samarindok Persembahan Kebudayaan Melayu Sarawak 2020’ is an annual event that has been ongoing since 2015, and aims to increase the visibility of the Malay community through the arts; preserve and revitalise the Sarawakian Malay stage performing arts; as well as pique the interest and pride of the younger generation of said arts.
It is divided into four series that are held every three months and the first series showcased Gendang Melayu Sarawak with four performances on Saturday night.