Preservation of lion dance culture necessary in view of long history — Poon
SANDAKAN: Locals must pay more attention to preserve the artistic cultures of the different races in Malaysia as a way to foster harmony and unity among the people.
Youth and Sports Minister Frankie Poon said this when commenting on the need to preserve the artistic culture of lion dance among the Chinese race.
“Malaysia is a multi-racial and multi-cultural country and we always celebrate different ethnic groups’ festivals together regardless of our background and races; lion dance is no exception. Lion dance has a long history in Malaysia and it has laid a strong foundation in which the culture has been passed down from generation to generation.
“It is not only practised faithfully by the Chinese, but has also attracted the interests of other races. The effort to promote and preserve lion dance culture goes beyond race, and efforts must be made together to achieve greater heights.
“Lion dance is one of the best known Chinese cultures, going back a thousand years ago. The ‘High Pile Lion Dance’ is listed as a cultural heritage in Malaysia and lion dance is also being recognised by the Ministry of Education in Malaysia as one of the schools’ curricular activities, which is something we, as Malaysians, are proud of,” he said.
Poon said this in a speech delivered by his political secretary, Liau Fui Fui, during the launching ceremony of Kwong Ngai Lion Dance Association Sandakan fourth anniversary at Yu Yuan Secondary School Hall here recently.
He congratulated the association for their commitment, dedication and hard work throughout the years and said that he hoped his ministry will be able to work together with the association to promote lion dance skills and culture.