"One of the poems studied is Gurindam 12. The poetry of goodness in life attracts the students," Surjadi, the head of the Tanjungpinang Culture and Tourism Office, said in Tanjungpinang on Sunday,
Surjadi said that students who could show good achievements in the training were then engaged in performances they organized.
He explained that in this activity the Cultural Value Conservation Center and the local Culture and Tourism Office only facilitated it.
"We hold training, then students do performances and competitions at their own expense," he said.
The inaugural event held in Tanjungpinang attracted the attention of students because of the similarity of culture and art originating from Riau Islands and Malaysia.
The historical fact, he said, shows that Malay culture was inherited from the Kingdom of Riau-Lingga-Pahang on Penyengat Island.
Therefore, he said, Malaysian students were invited to visit Penyengat Island, which is rich in Malay history. Some of them have never visited Penyengat Island.
On Penyengat Island, they also visited the yellow Sultan Mosque.
"This is a historic mosque that attracts the attention of students," he said.
Surjadi said this activity was planned to be carried out every year involving the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Tourism, the Language Agency and the Cultural Value Conservation Center.
"We want the wealth of Malay culture in Tanjungpinang to be known to the world community. This activity also increases the number of foreign tourist visits," he said.
Translator: Nikolas Panama/Bambang Purwant
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
