PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION

9, King George’s Avenue 208581 Tel: (65) 6340 5430/5454/432/231 Fax: (65) 6348 5977 Website: www.pa.gov.sg

27 July 2016

GENTARASA 2016 SHOWCASES THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MALAY CULTURE THROUGH TRADITIONAL PERFORMANCES AND POETRY IN CELEBRATION OF HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI

18 Gentarasa performers who have excelled in both academic and cultural pursuits to receive Gentarasa Study Grant 2016 at Gala Show

In conjunction with Hari Raya celebrations, Gentarasa 2016 will showcase the Malay community’s heritage, culture and customs through this cultural performance which will feature performers from all walks of life. The cast, comprising 85% local talents from the Community Centres/Clubs (CCs), includes a total of 150 artistes, both Malay and non-Malay performers coming together to promote understanding and appreciation of the Malay culture. This is one of the biggest cast participation in Gentarasa since 2002. William See is one of the 5 non-Malay performers who is very excited in performing dance on stage and will continue to support such programmes in the future. The youngest cast, Md Hasif Afiq Bin Md Ridwan, aged 6, will be involved in the martial arts performance. Md Hasif Afiq is from the Bukit Batok East CC Interest Group and is his first Gentarasa performance.

2 The 100-minute flagship cultural concert by People’s Association (PA) Malay Activity Executive Committees Council (MESRA), entitled “Genggaman Jati, Menyulam Masa – Weaving Self through Time” – will perform to an anticipated 2,500 audience at the Kallang Theatre on Saturday, 30 July 2016 at 2.00pm (Matinee) and at 8.00pm (Gala Show). Mr Ng Chee Meng, Acting Minister for Education (Schools) and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Transport and Dr Janil Puthucheary, Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information and Ministry of Education are the Guests-of-Honour for the Gala and

1

Matinee shows respectively. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information and Adviser to MESRA will host Acting Minister Mr Ng Chee Meng at the Gala Show. These 2,500 audiences will be engaged in the Gentarasa performance through the movement using their hand gestures, showcasing the spirit of Gotong Royong and togetherness.

3 Taking on a cultural route, this year’s Gentarasa encapsulates the rich traditions and customs of the Malay community expressed through poetry and various cultural dance forms. These cultural performances showcase the rich Malay heritage and identity through various traditional Malay art and dance forms such as (traditional dance from ), (a comprehensive dance, drama and theatre performances), Kulit, Silat, and many more through the narrations of a storyteller. Embedded with core socio-cultural values such as family, care and harmony, this year’s performance is set to showcase the strong foundation of the Malay community and identity in Singapore while remaining relevant in an ever-changing society.

4 Gentarasa was initiated in 2002 to foster understanding and appreciation of the rich Malay culture and heritage in Singapore’s multi-racial society. “Through the Gentarasa platform, our youths, including youths from the other communities, will be able to appreciate the significance of the Malay arts, culture and heritage. In the process, it will instil in them the importance of family, care for the community and value of resilience.” said Minister Yaacob, Adviser to MESRA. For the third time this year, 20-minute excerpt from Gentarasa will be showcased at the heartlands between September and October 2016 to extend its outreach to another 5,000 audience in the heartlands.

5 This year, 18 outstanding youths will be receiving the Gentarasa Study Grant from Mr Ng Chee Meng, Acting Minister for Education (Schools) & Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Transport, at the Gentarasa Gala Show this Saturday, 30 July 2016. Out of the 18 recipients, seven are from the polytechnic and the rest are from the Primary, Secondary, Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and University. The Gentarasa Study Grant was initiated by Minister Yaacob in 2010 to

2

reward Gentarasa performers of the current year for their academic excellence amidst their involvement in the production of the show.

6 Ms Siti Shahirah Binte Samad, 23-year old University undergraduate, will be receiving the Gentarasa Study Grant this year. “Gentarasa 2016 has been an amazing journey of learning the different Malay performing arts and strengthening friendships. I feel very grateful to receive the support from PA and MESRA as I further pursue my passion for the culture and language through the Bachelor of Arts (Education) programme as a future Malay Language teacher,” said Shahirah. Ms Shahirah is from the Dikir Barat Group from Bedok CC.

7 Your journalist and photographer are cordially invited to Gentarasa 2016 Gala Show on Saturday, 30 July 2016 at 7.15pm at Kallang Theatre, 1 Stadium Walk, Singapore 397688. Interview and photography with the Gentarasa Study Grant recipients and participants can be arranged upon request. The programme, background information on Gentarasa 2016 and the map to Kallang Theatre are attached at Annexes A, B and C respectively. Please RSVP to the undersigned by Friday, 29 July, 3pm ______

Contact persons : Mr Sivashankar Chandran Head (Integration) Integration Division Tel: 63405094 / 96979215 Email: [email protected]

Ms Nur Zakiyyah Halil Manager (Integration) Integration Division Tel: 63405346 / 90231214 Email: [email protected]

Issued by : Corporate Communications Division People’s Association Tel: 6340 5430/5432/2032 ______

About People’s Association

The People’s Association (PA) is a statutory board established on 1 July 1960 to promote racial harmony and social cohesion, and to act as a bridge between the Government and the people. We offer a wide range of community programmes and volunteering opportunities for Singaporeans from all walks of life. Our network includes more than 1,800 grassroots organisations (GROs), over 100 Community Clubs, five Community Development Councils, National Community Leadership Institute and Water-Venture. More information at www.pa.gov.sg.

3

About MESRA

MESRA is the co-ordinating council of the Malay Activity Executive Committees (MAECs) which aims to guide the MAECs in engaging the community through a wide range of outreach programmes, assist the MAECs and other grassroots organisations to identify and recruit suitable Malay grassroots leaders and to facilitate collaboration between MAECs and other grassroots organisations and the larger community.

Gentarasa literally means “Chimes of Expression.” It translates the many voices of expressions from the heart of the Malay community. These voices reverberat from the vast talents that exist in the community activity groups in the hopes to raise community awareness and appreciation of the Malay culture, elevate the standard of Malay cultural groups, talent scout and develop them.

Gentarasa Study Grant is initiated by Dr Yaacob Ibrahim to reward Gentarasa performers of the current year for their academic excellence amidst their involvement in the production of the show.

4

Annex A

GENTARASA 2016 – GENGGAMAN JATI, MENYULAM MASA (WEAVING SELF THROUGH TIME) AT THE KALLANG THEATRE, SATURDAY, 30 JULY 2016 AT 8.00PM ______

PROGRAMME

6.30pm Arrival of Audience

7.15pm Arrival of Invited Guests

7.40pm Arrival of Associate Professor Yaacob Ibrahim Minister for Communications and Information, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Adviser to MESRA

Arrival of Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Social and Family Development and Adviser to MESRA

7.50pm Arrival of Guest of Honour Mr Ng Chee Meng Acting Minister for Education (Schools) & Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Transport

8.00pm Presentation of Gentarasa 2016 Study Grant

Commencement of Gentarasa 2016

Phototaking with Performers

9.40pm Reception

10.00pm End of Event

______

5

Annex B

GENTARASA 2016

GENTARASA 2016 – GENGGAMAN JATI MENYULAM MASA (Weaving Self Through Time)

SYNOPSIS

Genggaman Jati Menyulam Masa illustrates the various renditions of Malay traditional performing arts such as Mak Yong, Dikir Barat, Randai and many more. These traditional art forms and dance are reframed to reflect the vibrancy and dynamism in our modern society. Despite the struggle to keep the essence of Malay cultural identity alive, these art forms has gripped through time and influence the fabric of the Malay community and values in our everyday lives. Through injects of technology, the performance is set to showcase the underlying values of familial piety, multi-racial, and social cohesion.

This cultural performance will feature variations of Malay traditional art forms and dance such as Dikir Barat, Silat, Kompang, Randai, Mak Yong, and many more.

6

Annex C

Location Map

Kallang Theatre 1 Stadium Walk, Singapore 397688

Directions Nearest MRT Station CC6 Stadium Station (4 mins walk from Stadium Station; Exit A)

Car Park No parking. Lanes are closed due to NDP Preview Show.

Bus Services SBS Bus No. 11 from Kallang MRT Station (11 mins) Alight at Bus Stop No.B80199 (Walk 1 min to Kallang Theatre)

7