Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,
Assalamualaikum W.B.T and Salam Sejahtera,

Yang Berhormat Dato Sri Haji Abd Karim Rahman Hamzah Sarawak’s Minister of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Yang Berbahagia Datuk Wira Megat Zulkarnain Tan Sri Omardin President of Malaysian National Silat Federation (PESAKA) Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Mohamad Yusnar Haji Matalie Deputy President of Rumpun Silat Sarawak.

Ladies and gentlemen,
Alhamdulillah, with the gracing of the almighty, we are able to gather here today at the official opening ceremony for the Sarawak Premier International Silat Championship 2023. Firstly, I would take this opportunity to welcome YB Datuk Wira Megat Zulkarnain Tan Sri Omardin, President of National Silat Federation (PESAKA), who is also accompanied by my good friends, YB Dato Sri Haji Abd Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak together with YB Dato’ Mohamad Yusnar Haji Matalie, Deputy President of Rumpun Silat Sarawak. Indeed, the presence of the PESAKA’s president from the Peninsula will certainly give an inject to the spirit of the nation’s silat exponents.

I would also like to use this special occasion to congratulate Rumpun Silat Sarawak (RSS) for their commitment and earnestness in organizing this international scale championship in the land of Bumi Kenyalang as it has elevated the reputation of Sarawak’s martial arts to a higher level. Moreover, I would also like to thank Malaysian National Silat Federation (PESAKA) and World Pencak Silat Federation (PERSILAT) who gave their trust and cooperation to Rumpun Silat Sarawak (RSS) to organize this international-scale championship in Sarawak.

Sarawak feels honoured to be a part of this commencement as this championship brings together Malaysian local and international contingents with a total of 500 participants who’s ready to partake in this championship.

Of course, as the patron of Rumpun Silat Sarawak (RSS), I’m extremely proud to witness an international championship being organized in the historic land of Sarawak. This championship commencement is inline with the state’s government’s stance to improve the quality of sports as a whole in Sarawak.

Not to be forgotten, I am grateful to the sponsors for being the backbone for this championship as well as the committee members who worked hard in planning the work to ensure that this international-scale championship can be implemented successfully.

Ladies and gentlemen,
The inception of the SARAWAK INTERNATIONAL PREMIER SILAT CHAMPIONSHIP will not only improve the credibility and integrity of the sport in Sarawak while it will also uplift Sarawak’s name on a global stage with the participation of exponents from powerhouse nations such as Netherlands, Uzbekistan and the United States of America who will participate in the historic city of Kuching throughout the week of the championship.

Silat has also proven to be the bridge between the Malay Archipelago’s with the outside world as hundreds of thousands of members from Europe, Central Asia, East Asia and Africa have embraced this sport. Therefore, the commencement of this championship is very significant and important for us to
promote the sport of silat and preserve the culture and heritage of the art for the future generation.

Ladies and gentlemen, before I conclude my speech, I wish the best to all the silat exponents who will be competing in various categories throughout this championship. Compete with sportsmanship and with a high fighting spirit to achieve your goals. Winning and losing is the part of the game, what is more important is to use this opportunity
to strengthen the relationship between your fellow silat exponents while exchanging views and opinions in order to achieve a brilliant future in the sport.

With this, it gives me great pleasure to officiate the Sarawak Premier International Silat Championship 2023.

Regards,
Wabillahi Taufik Wal Hidayah, Wassalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.