By Lian Cheng
KUCHING: The traditional oil lamps, fast being replaced by the multi-coloured electrical festive lights, will not disappear into oblivion if state Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg has his way.
Among his new missions is to get more Malay villages in the state to light up the pelita (oil lamps) during Raya.
"I will not only promote bertuntung but hope to breathe new life into the tradition by injecting creativity in it," he said, referring to the Malay practice of lighting up kerosene lamps during Hari Raya.
"The culture of bertuntung may die (in the city), and I will have to find new ways to promote it," he said.
Abang Johari said rather than just hanging the pelita on poles or wooden stands, villagers should be more creative in arranging the lights.
"I saw these decorative lights on an electric post showing a child kissing the hand of an elderly person."
He said that was the kind of creativity that was missing among those still hanging out the pelita.
"It is not only a design. It also reflects our tradition.
"This is what I hope to see in bertuntung in future," he said at the launch of "Pesta Bertuntung Satok 2011" at Masjid Darul Ehsan on Friday.
The event was organised by the Satok Tourism Board with cash sponsorship by Berita Harian and kerosene supplied by Petronas Sdn Bhd.
Thirteen villages and 10 individual houses are competing in the festival, which ends on Sept 1.
With the launch of "Pesta Bertuntung Satok", the Malay villages in Satok will be lit up at night with kerosene lamps and decorative lighting.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device via Vodafone-Celcom Mobile.
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