MOTAC TARGETING 10,000 VISITORS FOR KELANTAN WAYANG KULIT FESTIVAL 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) is targeting the attendance of about 10,000 visitors at the Kelantan Wayang Kulit Festival (FWKK) 2025, which is scheduled to take place from Oct 31 to Nov 2 at the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (ASWARA).

National Heritage Department director-general Mohamad Muda Bahadin said the festival is not just a platform to introduce traditional performing arts to the general public, but also a platform to raise public awareness of efforts to conserve the country's intangible cultural heritage.

“The Kelantan Wayang Kulit Festival coincides with the National Cultural Policy (DAKEN) underscoring seven thrusts: a culture of high values; harmony of society; the preservation and conservation of cultural heritage; cultural development and expansion; cultural empowerment; generation of cultural economy; and cultural excellence,” he said when speaking at the Kelantan Wayang Kulit Festival pre-launch ceremony and the International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage 2025 Celebration here today.

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He said the festival was also organised in conjunction with the International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage which is celebrated worldwide on Oct 17 and organised by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation), as the second edition since it was declared in 2024.

“The celebration aims to raise global awareness of the importance of preserving and appreciating Intangible Cultural Heritage such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and traditional craft skills,” he said.

Meanwhile, the dean of the ASWARA Traditional Performing Arts Centre Mohd Kamarulzaman Taib said his team is fully prepared to make the festival a success that would create its own history by bringing together 10 wayang kulit groups from Kelantan.

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"ASWARA is very committed to the initiative of preserving the national heritage by organising the Kelantan Wayang Kulit Festival. ASWARA's space and facilities will be fully utilised throughout the three-day festival which features various activities such as competitions, exhibitions and performances," he said.

He said the festival also provides an opportunity for the younger generation, including ASWARA students, to witness performances from various generations of wayang kulit puppeteers.

"The generation performing this performance is cross-generational, and ASWARA students are among the lucky ones to be able to enjoy performances from various generations of wayang kulit in Malaysia," he also said.

Mohd Kamarulzaman added that the public, including students, non-govermental organisations and the arts community, is encouraged to attend to jointly strengthen the country's cultural identity and boost domestic tourism, thus becoming an important component towards Visit Malaysia 2026.

--BERNAMA