Four Silat Practitioners and a Chef to Represent Kedah at World Expo in Osaka

ALOR SETAR: Four silat practitioners and a chef have been selected to represent Kedah at the Osaka Kansai Expo in Japan in 2025.

The participating silat practitioners are from the Pertubuhan Silat Pulut Warisan Padang Petani and the Persatuan Silat Gayong Malaysia Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Manager of Pertubuhan Silat Pulut Warisan Padang Petani Kedah, Mohd Nizam Ahmad, said their participation is part of efforts to promote the state government’s agenda in conjunction with the Visit Kedah Year (TMK) 2025.

He stated that they are expected to perform from April 27 to May 5.

“The objective of the state government is to introduce Kedah’s name through silat and culinary showcases at this prestigious event, which is held once every five years. The expo attracts tourists from around the world,” he said.

Meanwhile, silat practitioner Nur Azlyana Yaakub, 18, said the opportunity to showcase the traditional martial art from the Rice Bowl State on an international stage is an honor for her, and she hopes it will attract foreign tourists to Kedah, known for its rich culture and fascinating tourist spots.

“We are representing both Kedah and Malaysia. I hope many other countries will take notice and realize that Malaysia has its own unique identity, and one of those elements is silat.
Specifically for Kedah, it’s silat pulut. I hope silat pulut will become more widely recognized worldwide,” she said.

Her teammate, Muhammad Irfan Mohd Riban, added:
“I am bringing silat to Japan to elevate our martial art to the global stage. Many people don’t know what silat is… God willing, I will bring the name of silat abroad and let the world know about it,” he said.

Meanwhile, chef Saifuddin Rosli said he will present unique traditional dishes from Kedah to help expand Malaysia’s food industry and promote the nation’s tourism sector.
Saifuddin described his selection as not only a personal honor but also a recognition for the entire Kedah community.

“Many Malaysians themselves are not familiar with Kedah’s heritage dishes. We want to introduce them internationally, such as gedongchak, bunga pudak, serabai, peknga, gulai batang pisang, gulai temenung, laksa, and many more,” he said.

The Osaka Kansai Expo 2025 is scheduled to be held from April 13 to October 13.

— Agency