The Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) today denied claims that its prohibition of the use of “pantun” (Malay poetry form) during official functions was intended to sideline the Malay customs and culture.
In a statement, the ATM clarified that its internal instruction to all army, navy and air force bases was directed at hosts of “strictly regimented” functions organised according to military ethics.
These functions include military events attended by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and march-pasts.
“In relation to a report in an online portal that quoted a national cultural expert who was unhappy with the prohibition on the use of pantun, the ATM would like to categorically deny claims that the organisation has sidelined Malay customs and cultures,” ATM said.
It added that events that are not regimented, such as family days and sports days, could still feature pantun or various forms of Malay prose.
Taking to Twitter last night, Bersatu Negeri Sembilan chairperson Rais Yatim had questioned ATM’s latest internal ruling, which was issued through a Nov 2 letter signed by ATM’s headquarters Chief of Staff Kamalruzaman Mohd Othman, and shared on social media.
“Read this letter. It can’t be that the Malays are so deprived of our own culture, to the point that even delivering a pantun has been prohibited,” said Rais, a former social-cultural advisor to the previous Barisan Nasional government.
He also urged related bodies, including Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and local Malay laureates, to speak up on the matter.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Linguistic Association (PLM) also expressed its disappointment with the ruling, pointing out that there were various messages which could be effectively delivered through the correct use of pantun.
“More than just bravery of the army, they must also be instilled with an identity as Malaysian soldiers, not an American army of the British troops, although they might have undergone their training there,” said PLM’s deputy president Kamal Shukri Abdullah Sani. - Mkini
Source | https://malaysiansmustknowthetruth.blogspot.com/2018/11/armed-forces-defends-pantun-ban-denies.html
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