12/09/2025

FRIDAY | SEPT 12, 2025

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Malaysian Paper

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Youths urged to value peace

playful storyline. The mood shifted in Bunga Kasih , a poignant piece about Si Dara grieving the loss of her husband. The music and lyrics struck a raw emotional chord, drawing silence and empathy from the crowd. The show also introduced Malay customs in a light and engaging way. During the Memang Jodoh segment, the audience were treated to a demonstration of how to wear the samping and batik , symbols that reveal whether a person is single, married, widowed or bereaved. In the finale, the atmosphere turned into a grand village celebration as the audience was invited to dance together on the main stage, ending the night in a joyful, festive spirit. What began as a small concert idea has now grown into a cultural showcase. Thanks to the overwhelming response to its first edition, Kampung Ronggeng 2.0 has blossomed into a heartfelt work that blends music, memory and heritage. cultural diversity, history and unity, as well as famous for its food, heritage and welcoming spirit. Themed “Malaysia Madani: Rakyat Disantuni”, the event will take place on Sept 16 at the PICCA Convention Centre@Arena Butterworth. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is set to officiate the celebrations at 8.30pm, which will be attended by Ramli, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg. On June 11, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil announced that this year’s Malaysia Day celebrations would take place in Penang, following the tradition of rotating the venue each year between Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.

safeguarding peace. “History should serve as a lesson as we strive for a better life, and we must never allow anyone’s interests to jeopardise peace, for only peace can guarantee well-being in education, food and all aspects of life. “Value the blessings we have today, the peace in our country and the social justice that bridges racial divide, because without social justice, there can be no real quality of life.” On Malaysia Day in Penang, Ramli described the celebrations as a recognition and a symbol of unity among the races in Sabah, Sarawak and the Peninsula, while highlighting that all Malaysians are united under one nation. He also thanked the federal government for choosing Penang to host this year’s celebrations, calling it a fitting choice, as the state is rich in

Mutiara recently. Ramli also recounted the hardship during the Japanese occupation, when food was so scarce that people had to survive on cassava and other substitutes. “When I was five, meals were often just rice with bananas, cassava and a small serving of vegetables whenever available. We even used rambai fruit skins as vegetables and often survived on boiled cassava due to the food shortage,” he said. Having lived through three eras (colonial rule, independence and development), Ramli urged the younger generation to remember history and appreciate the freedom enjoyed today. He also advised young people not to be carried away by material progress, but to nurture patriotism and unity, and remain steadfast in

o Pre-independence history serves as lesson on importance of patriotism and unity, says Penang governor

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Governor Tun Ramli Ngah Talib credits his deep love for the nation and strong sense of identity to his formative years growing up in the austere pre independence era. Born in the historic town of Pasir Salak in Perak, 84-year-old Ramli said those pre-independence experiences became a crucial foundation in shaping his vision and leadership. Despite the hardships that followed the Japanese occupation, he described his village life as being rich in Malay traditions and values, and

credited his parents with instilling discipline and the virtue of simplicity from an early age. “I grew up in Pasir Salak, which is renowned for the killing of Perak’s first British Resident James Wheeler Woodford Birch on Nov 2, 1875. “(It was also) a village steeped in tradition. I remember my grandmother once scolding me as a child for wasting just a single grain of rice. It was a simple yet profound lesson in valuing food and being grateful,” he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama at Seri

Concert brings kampung nostalgia to life KUALA LUMPUR: Stepping into the Kampung Ronggeng 2.0 Concert at the Aswara Experimental Theatre last Friday felt like being transported to a village hall alive with the sounds of gamelan , bursts of laughter and the chatter of familiar voices. dressed in kampung -inspired attire, from batik sarong and baju pagoda to towels draped over heads and grandmother-style casual looks, turning the evening into a lively, nostalgic gathering.

Music director Teuku Umar Ilany Teuku Iskandar said this second edition carried more depth, adding layers of emotion, stronger interaction with the audience, and four new songs to strengthen the storytelling. “Previously, it was just a regular concert in which we presented songs. This time, we wanted something different, a storyline that connects the pieces together. We used the village and its memories as the thread that binds the songs,” he told Bernama. The concert took three months of preparation, from composing to conceptual planning and narrative structuring. The result was 14 original works spread across different segments, including Hantu Stories, Kuih! Kuih!, Bunga Kasih, Undi Saya and Atap Nipah .

For two hours, the modest stage became a gateway to rural memories filled with culture, emotion, humour and tradition, making the show much more than just a performance. Characters such as Pak Abu, Pak Walid, Atan, Si Dara and Si Teruna brought folklore to life with light hearted storytelling, woven in spontaneous interactions with the audience that made the experience even warmer. But Kampung Ronggeng 2.0 was not only about entertainment. It was a celebration of heritage and rural identity, a reminder that traditional arts still hold a special place in the heart despite the pressures of modernity. The audience embraced the theme wholeheartedly, many

Artistes presenting a performance during the concert at the Aswara Experimental Theatre in Kuala Lumpur. – BERNAMAPIC

sing and dance but also handed illustrated sheets of traditional cakes to spark nostalgia and enrich the

One of the liveliest moments came during the Kuih! Kuih! segment, when the audience was not only invited to