Over 40,000 Visitors Expected At Festival Permainan Malaysia @ Kuala Lumpur 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 (Bernama) -- More than 40,000 visitors are expected to gather at Dataran Merdeka here to enliven the Malaysia Games Festival @ Kuala Lumpur 2023 (FPM@KL 2023) scheduled from tomorrow until Sept 17.

Project director Rosdianah Roman said the event comprises a range of activities such as traditional game competitions, interactive games, exhibitions, demonstrations, performances, and sales.

“FPM@KL 2023 highlights traditional Malaysian games as its main programme, involving 1,520 participants from uniformed bodies and the corporate sector.

“We are also targeting the involvement of primary and secondary school students, as well as foreign tourists," she told Bernama here today.

Rosdianah, who is also the deputy director of Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory National Department for Culture and Arts (WPKLJKKN) said there are more than 25 exciting activities provided, including a variety of traditional games such as bola sepak kain sarong, sepak raga ratus, kelereng, batu seremban, dam aji, galah panjang, kabaddi, terompah gergasi and tuju tinju.

“We are also organising the Kuala Lumpur International Open Tug of War Competition which has participants from eight foreign countries, namely Brunei, Taiwan, India, South Africa, Thailand, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Mongolia, coordinated by the Tug of War Association Malaysia. There are also dart and catapult competitions organised by the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Youth and Sports Department WPKL).

“As a special feature for this year, we will present chingay performance demonstration or acrobatic flag display, a well-known tradition in Penang, and traditional games from Sabah and Sarawak, including rampanau, magunatip, mintubow (Sarawak spinning tops), and menyumpit," she added.

Meanwhile, around 10,000 participants from the Sarong Train 2023 event will be at Dataran Merdeka add colours to FPM@KL 2023 and the Malaysia Day celebration.

FPM@KL 2023 will collaborate with the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) to promote recycling and maintain a litter-free festival for its three-day duration, Rosdianah said adding that the event aims to bring people from Malaysia's diverse backgrounds together by reviving traditional games and sports from different ethnic groups in the country.

“We hope that each activity to promote unity, nurture camaraderie, encourage mutual respect through traditional games, and offer opportunities for cultural entrepreneurs to generate income, thus boosting the local economy,” she added.

FPM@KL 2023 is organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture through WPKLJKKN in collaboration with the Kuala Lumpur City Council and the Malaysian Traditional Sports Association.

-- BERNAMA