Penyengat Island may become Malay cultural center

Fadli The Jakarta Post Batam, Riau

Local arts and culture figures have proposed that Penyengat Island in the Riau Islands regency, located about a 15-minute journey by sea from Sumatra, be developed into a Malay cultural center, fully equipped with the latest multimedia technology.

It has been selected as the center's site because of an ancient mosque, the Mesjid Raja Haji Fisabilillah, on the island -- the only Malay cultural heritage in the Riau Islands.

The idea of transforming Penyengat Island into a Malay cultural center was raised in a discussion on Monday at a Malay arts and culture festival featuring pieces from Tanjung Pinang and Batam, both areas of Penyengat Island.

Among the cultural masterpieces presented at the festival was a recital of the late poet Raja Ali Haji's Gurindam Dua Belas, as well as Malay dance and musical performances.

Participants of the arts festival included Hoesnizar Hood, a noted Malay dance choreographer and poet, Aida Ismeth Abdullah, the wife of the Batam Authority head and an expert poetry reciter, and Lawen, a poet from Tanjung Pinang.

Hoesnidar told The Jakarta Post that Penyengat Island was fit to be the center of Malay culture, because Malay culture originated on the island.

"It's about time Malays become fully appreciative of the saying, Malay tak kan hilang di bumi (Malays will never vanish from the world), and bring it into concrete existence. The idea of making the island into a hi-tech Malay cultural center should be realized. Artists have concepts about it, but how we turn it into reality depends on government funding," he said.

He said Penyengat Island was once the epicenter of a Malay kingdom, and was called Pulau Penyengat Indera Sakti.

The ancient mosque, built in 1832, still stands resilient and is the main tourist attraction on the island. Other ancient sites, including the ruins of the Indera Sakti Palace are in a state of neglect.

The grave of renowned poet Raja Ali Haji is also located on the island among the graves of kings who once reigned over the island kingdom.

Separately, Aida said the idea should be realized soon as possible, so as to benefit future generations.

If it is not realized, there is a fear that Malay culture and heritage will disappear from its island of origin.

"The idea of turning Penyengat Island into a Malay cultural center was discussed long ago. We hope the concept is quickly brought to fruition," Aida said in Batam.