SEBUYAU: Silat must continue to be strengthened as a cultural heritage and a medium for forming the identity of the younger generation.

Minister for Utility and Telecommunication, Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi said that silat tournaments play a big role in producing a generation that is not only competent in the ring, but also has high discipline, morals and a patriotic spirit.

"Silat is not just a sport, but a cultural heritage that needs to be preserved. Through tournaments like this, we can produce silat fighters who are not only agile in the ring, but also have high morals and a patriotic spirit," he said.

He said this during the Closing Ceremony of the Silat Tanding Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi Cup Invitational Tournament Series 2025 here, on Sunday.

The Sebuyau Assemblyman also expressed hope that the tournament can continue as an annual event to produce more quality young silat fighters in the future.

At the same ceremony, Dato Sri Julaihi approved an allocation of RM50,000 to the Persatuan Silat Helang Putih Perkasa Sebuyau for next year.

The silat tournament organised by the Pertubuhan Seni Silat Helang Putih Perkasa Sarawak Sebuyau Branch took place from 7 to 9 November 2025 and attracted the participation of 15 teams from all over Sarawak.

In the competition, Silat Helang Putih Perkasa (SHPP) Sarikei emerged as the overall champion by winning 16 gold, seven silver, and five bronze, followed by SHPP Sebuyau A in second place with 13 gold, 10 silver and 20 bronze, while SHPP Samarahan was in third place with five gold, three silver, and nine bronze.

Prizes were also presented for each category with the gold medal winners consisting of SHPP Sebuyau A for the Pra Dini category, SHPP Sarikei for the Dini category, SHPP Sarikei for the Pre-Remaja category and SHPP Sebuyau A for the Remaja category.

A total of eight participants were also crowned as the Best Pesilat in their respective categories, namely Dayyan Hazeem Khairul Annuar (Pra Dini Putra, SHPP Sibu), Nur Aysha Ramadhani Abdullah (Pra Dini Putri, SHPP Sarikei), Amirrul Harith Nordaeni (Dini Putra, Hailam Laut Sarawak), Nur Faezza Darlina Afawandi (Dini Putri, Pukulan Spring 12 Nekmat), Mohd Fairuz Ikmal Abdullah (Pre-Remaja Putra, SHPP Sarikei), Nur Ariana Arisha Rudy (Pre-Remaja Putri, SHPP Sarikei), Muhd ​​Nur Afif Nur Alwan (Remaja Putra, SHPP Sebuyau A), and Nur Amira Natasya Jamaludin (Remaja Putri, SHPP Sebuyau A).

The closing ceremony was also attended by representative of Central Silat Helang Putih and Secretary General of the Sarawak Silat Association, Abbas Hamzah Mohd Hannet Ali, Chairman of the Silat Tanding Dato Sri Julaihi Cup Invitational Tournament, Narawi Zakaria Taha and representative of the Sebuyau District Officer, Noorfazireen Yusuf. -UKASnews