34-hour poetry declamation kicks off at National Library

A 34-hour poetry declamation event kicked off at 6pm at the National Library here today.

Organised by the Information Communication and Culture Ministry in collaboration Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), it is aimed at further strengthening the national language Bahasa Malaysia as a language of unity, culture and heritage.

National Library director-general Datuk Raslin Abu Bakar, who launched the programme at the National Library’s compound, said it was also to raise the 1Malaysia spirit in further promoting national unity through poetry.

Themed ‘1Malaysia Sejuta Puisi’ (1Malaysia, one million poems), it involves almost 1,000 participants comprising students, local poetry enthusiasts and members of the public.

On completion, the event will also enter the Malaysia Book of Records for the highest number of poems recited in that time frame – 10,000 in 35 genres of traditional and modern Malay poems.

Also present was UPSI’s Languages and Communications Faculty dean Assoc Prof Dr Nor Azmi Mostafa.