24 June 2012

MANDAILING DANCE AND DRUMS TO BECOME NATIONAL HERITAGE - RAIS

Mandailing Dance And Drums To Become National Heritage - Rais

KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 (Bernama) -- The Tor-tor dance and the Gordang Sambilan (Nine Great Drums) of the Mandailing community will be acknowledged as national heritage soon.

Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said these would be registered under Section 67 of the National Heritage Act 2005.

"But (the acknowledgement) is with conditions such as periodic performances must be held, which means that the dance must be presented while various beats of the drums must be played in front of the public," he told reporters after launching a Mandailing community gathering, here, Thursday.

Rais said promoting Mandailing arts and culture was important because it could expose their origins, besides fostering unity with the other communities.

In line with the 1Malaysia concept, the efforts by the Mandailings to highlight their arts and culture have been endorsed by the ministry to be recognised and exposed to the Malaysian public.

-- BERNAMA