Wau or kite flying is a folk game that was once very popular especially in the rural areas and often held at the beach sites, large lots, or paddy fields.

Kite flying is considered a recreational activity that can bring the village folks closer. Competitions are also organized where kites are evaluated based on their designs, patterns, colours, and whether they can be flown easily.

Unfortunately in today’s society the young generation does not seem to appreciate this folk game. They prefer more modern games that suit their taste, such as video games, futsal, or rock climbing. These activities have caused the new generation to forget about the existence of traditional games in the country.

To instill in the young generation the interest in kite flying, the Off Campus Representative Committee at UMT’s Residential Colleges has organized a programme called Sayap Seni Wau for the students living off campus and the local community.

UMT Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) Professor Dr. Mohd Izani Mohd Zain said the programme was intended to bring the students living off campus and the local community together and improve their cooperation with each other.

“The programme not only focused on kite flying skills but also served as a platform for providing exposure to the skills of kite making and the types of wau that can be found in Terengganu”.

He added that the programme was an initiative aimed at uplifting Malay’s traditional heritage to prevent it from dissapearing so that it can be passed down to the next generations.

The programme held on 22 June at Tengku Muhammad Ismail  Sports Complex was attended by local and international students and the local community. More than 50 participants took part in the Sayap Seni Wau event and the Wau Tegak competition. Batik painting competition was also held to make the event merrier. Three winners were chosen based on the height of their kites that were flown.

Izani said that the programme has the potential to be turned into an annual event and organized at a higher level such as higher education institution for the east coast.

The young generation needs to know that wau is not just a traditional game only but also an important asset due to its status as one of the Malay heritage, and this heritage must be preserved so that it is not taken over by modern games.

All parties need to work together to ensure that traditional games are still relevant although newer games keep appearing every day.

The programme also received support from the chairman of a local wau enthusiast association, Khairuddin Salleh, and the owner of a batik company involved in the programme, Sarinah Said.

Published by:

Corporate Communications Office

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu