OUR JOURNEY

Dewan Latehan RIDA

Dewan Latehan RIDA (Rural and Industrial Development Authority Training Centre) was established with the objective of rebuilding rural society as well as improving its economy.

1956

Institut Teknologi MARA

On 14 October 1967, MARA College was officially renamed Institut Teknologi MARA (ITM).

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1965

Maktab MARA

Dewan Latehan RIDA was renamed Maktab MARA. MARA stands for ‘Majlis Amanah Rakyat’ or the Council of Trust for Indigenous People.

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1967

1996

Institut Teknologi MARA

As a result of an amendment to the 1976 Act, ITM was given all powers accorded to a university but retained its historical name until 1999. By then, ITM had established a branch campus in every state of the country.

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1999

Universiti Teknologi MARA

On 26 August 1999, ITM was renamed Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). 

With this acknowledgement from the government, a major restructuring exercise was carried out in order to consolidate the university’s resources for optimum productivity.

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To remain relevant, UiTM needs to be proactive in its response to an ever-changing, evolving national and global landscape.

The strategic plan is based on three (3) strategic thrusts:

UiTM2025

STRATEGIC PLAN 

Quality Education

Global Excellence

Value-Driven Performance

Evolving Silat Scholarship Malaysia’s Path from Cultural Tradition to Global Academic Recognition

Mohamad Nizam Mohamed Shapie (1)*, Mohamad Rahizam Abdul Rahim (1), Nagoor Meera Abdullah (1),

Ardo Okilanda (2) & Nurul Ihsan (2)

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1- Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

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2- Fakultas Ilmu Keolahragaan, Universitas Negeri Padang (UNP)

Sumatera Barat, Indonesia

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Background & Rationale

• Silat Melayu: martial art & intangible cultural heritage
• Long oral-tradition transmission, limited documentation
• Early 2000s: Seni Silat Malaysia (SSM) curriculum introduced
• UiTM & PASSMAL drove research, training, and heritage safeguarding

Objectives

1. Map Malaysia’s Silat academicisation (2014-2024)
2. Identify milestones in research, curriculum & innovation
3. Examine challenges in balancing authenticity & globalization
4. Offer lessons for integrating indigenous martial arts into higher education

Methods

• Qualitative multi-source design:
• Literature review: 47 UiTM-led studies (2014-2024)
• Expert interviews with curriculum developers & coaches
• Comparative case studies – UNP (Indonesia) & UNESCO-ICM (Korea)
• Matrix-based coding + text-mining (Voyant, Excel) to identify keyword clusters

Results: 3-Phase Development

• Phase I (2014-2017) – Evidence-building: baseline physiological & performance profiling
• Phase II (2018-2020) – Training innovation, recovery & school-curriculum integration
• Phase III (2021-2024) – Globalisation, interdisciplinary scholarship, Silat EVO innovation

Cross-Cutting Pillars

• Physical-performance metrics & talent ID
• Training & conditioning science
• Curriculum & pedagogy standardization
• Recovery & injury-prevention strategies
• Socio-cultural identity & heritage studies

Key Innovations & Partnerships

1. Motion-capture biomechanics for strikes & evasive skills
2. Silat Tempur (youth-friendly combat-sport format)
3. Silat EVO professional cage-style format with enhanced athlete safety
4. Coach-education frameworks aligned with national governance
5. Partnerships with IMACSSS (Europe) & UNESCO-ICM (Korea)

Policy & Cultural Insights

• Research-to-practice translation strengthened sport credibility
• Institutional support (UiTM AIRBORNE RIG, PASSMAL) ensured continuity
• Technology improved safety & legitimacy of youth and elite Silat
• Authenticity must be protected despite professionalisation

Lessons for Global Academia

• Indigenous martial arts can thrive as heritage + academic disciplines
• Evidence-based science improves safety & global competitiveness
• Cultural sustainability achieved by embedding heritage in curricula
• Malaysia offers a forward-thinking model for similar traditions

Conclusion & Future Work

• Malaysia transformed Silat into a recognised interdisciplinary field
• Academicisation preserved heritage while advancing sports science
• Future directions: digital-coaching tools, policy-impact studies, cross-ASEAN comparisons

References

1. Shapie, M.N.M. (2021). The Warrior Attitude (Sikap Pendekar) in Malay Silat Encouraging Malaysian Interest in Global Martial Arts and Combat Sports. In “Southeast Asian Martial Arts: A Unique and Complex Cultural Phenomenon,” Ryu, S., Lee, K. & Hwang, J. (eds); p. 26-95. Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea: International Centre of Martial Arts for Youth Development and Engagement under the auspices of UNESCO [ICM]: Chungju-si. (ISBN: 9791191300239)Malaysia offers a replicable model.

References

1. Gough, D., Oliver, S., & Thomas, J. (2017). An introduction to systematic reviews (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications.
2. Shapie, M.N.M. (2021). The Warrior Attitude (Sikap Pendekar) in Malay Silat Encouraging Malaysian Interest in Global Martial Arts and Combat Sports. In “Southeast Asian Martial Arts: A Unique and Complex Cultural Phenomenon,” Ryu, S., Lee, K. & Hwang, J. (eds); p. 26-95. Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea: International Centre of Martial Arts for Youth Development and Engagement under the auspices of UNESCO [ICM]: Chungju-si
3. Shapie, M.N.M., Samsudin, H., Abdullah, N.M., Rahim, M.R.A., Ihsan, N., Nawai, N.S.N., Padli (2024). Tradition To Academia: The Transformation of Silat Education (2014-2024). In Ruslan, N., Zid, A., Radeeuddin, R. & Fariduddin, M.N. (Eds.), Book of the The 10th ASEAN Council of Physical Education and Sport (ACPES) International Conference 2024, (pp.478-482). Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation & Faculty of Education, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia.

Acknowledgements

• UiTM Research Management Centre
• AIRBORNE RIG
• PASSMAL
• IMACSSS
• UNESCO ICM

Thank You

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