KUALA LUMPUR, July 7th, 2022– The “Monograf Budaya Sembang Bukan Gebang” that contains the thoughts of Malaysian cultural figures, scholars and cultural art activists was launched by the Malaysian National Laureate, Datuk Dr. Siti Zainon Ismail, at a ceremony that took place at Istana Budaya.

This monograph is published in collaboration with the Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) Cultural Center and the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) and is the first collaboration between the two entities in the publication field.

The publication of this book is a pilot project through a strategic collaboration between JKKN and USIM in an effort to publish authoritative art and cultural reference materials together with higher education institutions.

The initiative that elevates the virtual talk program into a written version covers topics related to the current development of the country’s arts and culture incorporating the 3P concept, which is Art Administrators, Art Researchers and Cultural Arts Activists in the country is seen in line with JKKN’s function in implementing development, documentation and publication of cultural arts in order to be widely disseminated to all society.

The publication of the Monograf Budaya ‘Sembang Bukan Gebang’ (SBG) was produced from the SBG talk program, which was held for two seasons from June 20th to November 28th, 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic period. A total of 15 episodes were published, discussing various topics including poetry songs, Malaysian theater, Malay clothing, Malay poetry, traditional dance, Hang Tuah symbolism of Malay heroism, Malaysian films, the Islamic intensity and the future of artists.

The book contains 16 articles involving 17 writers, consisting of SBG program panellists and guest writers who have expertise in the field of cultural arts.

Among the writers involved in writing this monograph are Siso Kopratasa, theatre activist Dr. Rosminah Mohd Tahir, Prof. Dr. Supyan Hussin, Zulkifli Ab Rashid, Dr. Kamarulzaman Mohamed Karim or Mantabla, Prof. Prof. Dr. Indirawati Zahid, Ismail Ahmed, Chef Fikree Aznan, Dr. Azizah Abdullah, Prof. Prof. Dr. Mohd Azam Sulong or Azam Dungun, Hazelina Ghazaly, Zaiton Hasan, Wanza Mohamad, Muhammad Hasif Idris, Prof. Datuk Seri Dr. Awang Sariyan, Ramlee Wahab and Ezlina Alias.

This book is the first virtual talk show that has been elevated to a written manuscript. Featuring variations, the book also has a QR code on each last page of each article to be scanned by readers who want to watch the Sembang Bukan Gebang virtual talk show broadcast via the official USIM Cultural Center YouTube channel.

Also present at the book launch were the Vice-Chancellor of USIM, Professor Ts. Dr. Sharifudin Md Shaarani, university management, senior management of JKKN, SBG program panels including Malaysian filmmakers, U-Wei Hj. Shaari, Aziz M. Osman, Chef Fikree Aznan, Chef Joe, Zin Ngah and fellow art activists.

Disediakan oleh:
Pusat Komunikasi Strategik (StraComm)
Aras 1, Canselori Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)
Bandar Baru Nilai, 71800 Nilai Negeri Sembilan