Kids go onstage to celebrate Malay language

Primary school pupils rapped, sang, recited poetry and acted out Malay skits at the Kolam Ayer Community Club yesterday morning.

The event was part of this year's Malay Language Fiesta, which aims to promote Malay among pupils who study it as a mother tongue subject in school.

About 300 pupils, parents and supporters were at the event yesterday, which was also attended by Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs.

The event was organised by the community club's Malay Activity Executive Committee and Bendemeer Primary School. Over the next few weekends, other community clubs will be organising similar events.

Primary 4 pupil Anisha Natasha, who is from Blangah Rise Primary, felt a little nervous before performing in a short skit yesterday.

But fellow performer and schoolmate Erina Kukuljac, 10, reassured her.

"We rehearsed for five weeks, and we speak Malay daily, so it should be fine," she said.

The girls' Malay language teacher, Mr Muhammad Firdaus Amir, said that such events and performance opportunities help bring the language to life.

"Through the use of music, rap and drama, we hope to make the learning of the language more interesting for the children," said the 28-year-old teacher, stressing that he and his colleagues had to innovate.

It was also a point also emphasised by Dr Yaacob.

"Gone are the days when we just used the chalk-and-talk method," he said.

"Now, you see the use of props, music, and that is the kind of innovation that we want because the students are changing."

This article was first published on April 12, 2015.
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