DBP Sarawak to hold National Language, Reading Decades campaign
Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Sarawak will be holding its state-level National Language Decade and National Reading Decade campaigns this year.
DBP Sarawak director Abang Haliman Abang Julai said the campaigns, to be held from May to November this year, will have various activities, events and contests in collaboration with various government departments, agencies and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs).
“In view of the Covid-19 situation, we will inform if there is a launching ceremony,” he said at a press conference held at DBP Sarawak headquarters here yesterday.
With the theme ‘Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa’, this year’s National Language Decade campaign will feature competitions such as ‘Sayembara Dekon’ Chief Minister’s Trophy 2021 which is open to the public.
‘Dekon’ is a combination of declamation (deklamasi) and acting (lakon) with the script written as poetry.
Other competitions to be held during the campaign include the state-level ‘Sayembara Monorama’, Interesting Places in Sarawak Review competition, and Independence Poem Recitation competition, to name a few.
Events to be held during the campaign include a talk with Sarawak literary experts and a seminar with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Ministry of Youth and Sports.
“The objectives of the campaign are to highlight the Malaysian identity and image through the national language and literature as well as to refresh the people’s love and pride of Bahasa Melayu as the official national language.
“It also strengthens national unity through debates and literary activities and highlight the national language and literature’s role as one of the pillars in building a civilisation and nation,” he added.
With the theme ‘Malaysia Membaca’, the National Reading Decade will feature storytelling competition for pre-school children, Sarawak folklore storytelling competition, a bookreview public speaking, fiveminute reading, and biographical series of Sarawak literary experts.
He stated that the DBP secretariat will disseminate further information regarding registration through media platforms.
Also present were deputy director (Language Development, Literature and Marketing) Jaafar Hamdan and deputy director (Research and Development) Dr Syaidul Azam.