M'sian PM's Wife Launches International Silat Championship 2012

MELAKA (Malaysia), Nov 17 (Bernama) -- Rosmah Mansor Friday night launched the inaugural International Silat Championship 2012 at Dewan Tun Ali in Bukit Katil here. In her speech, the prime minister's wife said, through the practice of the art of 'silat' (indigenous martial arts), the community could acquire inner strength, learn to be self-disciplined and possess a strong sense of loyalty and love for the country. "What is interesting about silat is that it is not only practised among the Malay heroes, but also among heroines; women can gain from it as well," she said. Rosmah cited Tun Fatimah, who was well-known for her silat skills, with which she helped Melaka win the fight against the Portuguese in the 16th century. "This showed that women had long been associated with silat. We also should be proud that silat has been a competitive event at the Southeast Asian Games since 1979, and displayed at the Asian Games in Busan, South Korea in 2002," she said. More than 350 participants and officials from Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia will take part in the three-day championship organised by the Malaysian National Silat Federatation. Also present at the launch were championship advisor Asmah Abd Rahman, who is also the wife of the Melaka state chief minister, and committee chairman Yaakub Md Amin. -- BERNAMA