JEMPOL: Martial arts film 'Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan' has triggered a new phenomenon in the form of a Silat revival.
An increasing number of people are picking up the Malay martial arts ' silat ', with enquiries coming from parents who want their children to learn martial art skills from Silat associations.
Jempol District Seni Silat Gayong Malaysia ( PSSGM ) vice-chairman Ahmad Shafiq Zulkifli said the association has seen some 40 new students registering to learn the martial arts in the past three days.
He said it was quite unusual considering that previously the association only accepted four or five students a year.
"The impact of the film has seen some parents wanting their children to pick-up and learn martial arts.
"Previously, Silat received very little response as some claimed that it was just a village martial arts but the screening of the film has changed the public's perception," he said.
Ahmad Shafiq who is also a Silat instructor is confident that the number of exponents will increase following a recruitment programme by the association today and tomorrow.
He said the high fighting spirit that silat displayed involving the martial arts exponents, the manners of the Malays and the high Islamic patronage (of the martial arts) has had a great impact, especially on parents.
"It was not surprising when some parents registered their five-year-old children apart from some 50-year -olds who are also interested in taking up the martial arts.
"Gelanggang Panglima Hitam is the silat court under PSSGM while the Felda Raja Alias Satu 'gasing' court is the place where the martial arts training is held," he said.
Ahmad Shafiq explained that a total of 104 members of PSSGM Jempol had watched the Mat Kilau martial arts flick at a cinema in Bahau.
They even wore traditional Malay warrior's clothing to watch the film, he said.
The Jempol District Gelanggang Panglima Hitam PSSGM has produced 4,000 silat exponents to date and is the most active martial arts association in Negri Sembilan.