Terengganu Traditional Games Competition Held To Reignite Heritage Interest

By Mohd Zaid Mohd Noor

DUNGUN, May 23 (Bernama) -- Terengganu stepped up efforts to reignite interest in heritage games through the organisation of the State-Level Traditional Games Competition today, attracting 384 participants from across the state.

Organised by the Terengganu State Museum Board at the Muzium Permainan Rakyat here, the competition featured various games including bola tin, bola beracun, sepak raga ratus, selambut, congkak, rampai tradisi, dam aji and tug of war. 

Dungun District Museum Senior Assistant Director Noraini Shamsuddin said the programme aimed to expose younger generations to cultural heritage inherited from earlier communities while ensuring such activities remained relevant. 

“Traditional games are more than recreational activities as they also strengthen social ties, nurture teamwork and instil cultural values and identity among the younger generation,” she said.

She added that various programmes had been planned to further revitalise heritage games as part of long-term efforts to preserve Malay cultural traditions.

A participant, Nur Muhammad Anuar, 29, said he was deeply interested in cultural heritage and wanted to ensure the games continue to be recognised by the community, while the event could serve as a platform to introduce the uniqueness of local cultural heritage, especially to the younger generation.

“I hope efforts to elevate traditional games will continue to be strengthened through community activities so that this heritage will not disappear amid the tide of modernisation,” he told Bernama. 

Muhammad Ammar Syahmi, 23, said he was excited to witness several traditional games that are now rarely showcased to the public and they possessed unique characteristics that reflect the community’s cultural heritage and should be preserved and passed on to future generations. 

“However, most teenagers today no longer play these games because they are unfamiliar with them as they are no longer popular,” he said.

For Qistina Ayuni Zulkipli, 23, from Hulu Terengganu, heritage activities appeared to be gradually becoming extinct due to limited early exposure among the younger generation, unlike their previous generations who grew up with such activities as part of daily life. 

“Today’s children are increasingly drawn to gadgets and virtual gaming applications. Traditional games should continue to be preserved because they strengthen social relationships, nurture teamwork and help instil cultural values and identity,” she added.

-- BERNAMA