KUCHING: The 76 hours non-stop ‘Juh Bermukun’, which started at 5pm on Friday, will end at 9pm today.
The event, which took place at Auditorium P. Ramlee of RTM Kuching, was a collaboration between the Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Ministry and Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) to commemorate RTM’s 76th anniversary this year.
When approached during the launching ceremony on Friday, Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah said the programme’s organisation (through strategic collaboration) was indeed encouraging, as it was recommended by the government in its efforts to ensure that every event has a positive impact on society as a whole.
“Such an event is in line with the ministry’s goal and mission of continually promoting Sarawak in order for the state to become a world-class and culturally superior tourism destination similar to others.
“Through this event, Sarawak will be able to maintain its identity through arts, culture and heritage activities,” he added.
Abdul Karim also recalled how he grew up listening to ‘bermukun’ on RTM (previously known as Radio Sarawak) in the 1970s and 1980s.
“Every Saturday, people in my village are entertained with drum beats, followed by reciprocal ‘bermukun’ verses (between the ‘seh-seh gendang’ and ‘pemukun’) over the radio,” he noted.
Therefore, he urged community leaders, department heads, government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) around the state to continue to empower and protect the state’s arts, cultures and heritage to the best of their abilities.
“Apart from being a stimulant for the tourism industries, such activities (like ‘bermukun’) will be inherited to the next generation so that it does not become extinct from time to time,” he added.
Meanwhile, Broadcasting director-general Datuk Che Roslan Che Daud said ‘bermukun’, ‘tandak’ and ‘gendang lama’ were unique Sarawakian arts and cultures that could not be found in any other Malaysian state, and that they should be conserved and promoted, particularly among the younger generation.
He added that 76 performers took part in the event, including ‘seh-seh gendang’, ‘pemukun’, ‘penopeng’ as well as other musicians.
“All of the participants are from Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Mukah, Miri and Bintulu as well as those from Sabah and the Federal Territory of Labuan,” he said, adding ‘Juh Bermukun’ was broadcast non-stop for 76 hours on RTM Sarawak radio stations such as SARAWAKfm, WAIfm, REDfm and others.
