The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) has denied claims that its prohibition of the use of pantun (Malay poetry) during official functions was intended to sideline Malay customs and culture.

In a statement today, it clarified that its internal instruction to all army, navy and air force bases was directed at hosts of “strictly regimented” functions organised according to military ethics.

These functions include military events attended by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and march pasts.

“In relation to a report in an online portal that quoted a national cultural expert who was unhappy with the prohibition on the use of pantun, MAF would like to categorically deny claims that the organisation has sidelined Malay customs and cultures,” MAF said.

It added that events that are not regimented, such as family days and sports days, could still feature pantun or various forms of Malay prose.

Taking to Twitter last night, Negeri Sembilan Bersatu chairperson Rais Yatim had questioned MAF’s latest internal ruling which was issued through a Nov 2 letter signed by MAF headquarters chief of staff Kamalruzaman Mohd Othman and shared on social media.

“Read this letter. It can’t be that the Malays are so deprived of our own culture to the point that even delivering a pantun has been prohibited,” said Rais, former social-cultural advisor to the previous BN government.

He urged related bodies, including Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and local Malay laureates, to speak up on the matter.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Linguistic Association (MLA) also expressed its disappointment with the ruling pointing out that there were various messages which could be effectively delivered through the correct use of pantun.

“More than just bravery of the army, they must also be instilled with an identity as Malaysian soldiers, not an American army or the British troops, although they might have undergone their training there,” said MLA’s deputy president Kamal Shukri Abdullah Sani.