Cooperation needed to promote pencak silat<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian traditional martial art and sport
\npencak silat has been recognized internationally but it has never
\nreceived any special attention from the government here.<\/p>\n
It is important that the government work together with the
\nIndonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI) to increase the
\nsport's popularity both nationally and internationally, said
\ndirector-general of informal school education, youth and sports
\nat the national education ministry Endro Sumarjo on Monday. He
\nwas speaking at a seminar to commemorate the association's 52
\nanniversary at a pencak silat center in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Endro urged IPSI officials to submit a proposal to include the
\nsport in the junior and senior high school curriculums, adding
\nthat it had already been incorporated in the elementary school
\ncurriculum along with nine other sports.<\/p>\n
\"I'm talking on behalf of the minister of national education.
\nWe all have to be proactive. Don't blame the government (for
\ndoing nothing to develop the sport), but let's take a look at
\nourselves. If pencak silat is not so popular, ask IPSI to be
\nresponsible.\"<\/p>\n
\"If you asked for a ministerial decree to promote the sport,
\nwe'll support you. I also agree to give physical education
\nteachers special training pencak silat training,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The association's chairman Eddie Marzuki Nalapraya complained
\nhe had never been invited by ministries to discuss ways to
\npopularize the martial art.<\/p>\n
\"I have chaired IPSI for 20 years and during that period no
\ngovernment officials have invited me to discuss how to promote
\nthe sport to other countries. I have staged world pencak silat
\nchampionships many times, and they were attended by our president
\nand vice president. So what's wrong with me?\" he said.<\/p>\n
IPSI officials have their own reasons for shifting the blame
\non the government. None of the four ministers -- education
\nminister, defense minister, home affairs minister and the state
\nminister of tourism and arts -- invited to the seminar showed up.<\/p>\n
Their representatives instead spoke at the seminar.<\/p>\n
\"I don't want to grumble about the ministers' absence. I
\nunderstand that they are busy with state affairs. The most
\nimportant thing is that we'll inform them of the outcome of the
\nseminar. All of us want this sport to be featured in the 2006
\nAsian Games, but if our effort fails, don't blame me,\" Eddie
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
OCA Officials<\/p>\n
The Olympic Committee of Asia (OCA) will send representatives
\nto observe pencak silat at the 15th National Games (PON) in
\nSurabaya before deciding whether it should be exhibited at the
\n2002 Asian Games in Pusan, South Korea.<\/p>\n
The association's executive director Oyong Karmayudha recalled
\nthe difficulty he once had explaining the sport to a government
\nofficial. \"The official thought that a pesilat (martial artist)
\nwas a villager with a black suit and a big moustache.\"<\/p>\n
He said in 1994 the association suggested the sport feature at
\nArmy schools.<\/p>\n
\"We talked to the director general of Army communication
\ndepartment at that time and he was enthusiastic. But after the
\nofficer retired, his successors never followed up with the plan,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He also said his officials had asked the home affairs ministry
\nto urge governors to help promote pencak silat in their provinces
\nshould the law on regional autonomy be executed.<\/p>\n
\"The governors can help promote the sport by featuring it in
\nceremonies or even trying to develop it to boost provincial
\nprestige through achievements in sporting events. The governors
\ncan financially support it through the provincial budget,\" he
\nsaid. (ivy)<\/p>",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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