Ahmad Zahid Urges Pesaka To Promote Silat, Target Olympic Inclusion

NILAI, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian National Silat Federation (Pesaka) has been encouraged to work together with 91 countries that have silat associations to promote the martial art so that it can be contested at the Olympic Games in the future.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said such collaboration is crucial to strengthening silat’s position at the international level, thus ensuring its continued growth and recognition as a global sport.

“As the President of the International Silat Federation is Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto, I am confident he will help drive this matter forward (bringing silat to the Olympic Games).

“We hope that more countries will form their own silat associations, which could then enable the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to consider including silat as an Olympic competition event,” he said.

He said this to reporters after officiating the Malaysian National Silat Gathering 2025, which was also attended by Pesaka president Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin here today.

Ahmad Zahid said that in order for silat to be included as a sport at the Olympic Games, it must first receive endorsement from the IOC and he hopes that at least three-quarters of countries worldwide will take up the sport.

He added that there are currently 414 registered silat associations or schools across the country, reflecting growing interest in the martial art among Malaysians.

Meanwhile, Megat Zulkarnain said the federation had previously engaged with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) on the matter, and silat was showcased as a demonstration sport at the recent Paris Olympic Games.

“I believe the Deputy Prime Minister is very committed to seeing silat contested at the Olympic level,” he said.

Megat Zulkarnain added that the response received from world Olympic leaders has been very positive, opening a pathway for silat to be officially listed in future editions of the Games, whether at the 2028 Olympics or the 2032 Olympics.

He said the martial art now has representation across the five major continents, with federations in each region including Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa and Central America.

-- BERNAMA