In Malaysia, traditional games can be found in abundance. They include congkak, batu seremban or five stones, konda-kondi and galah panjang among many others. These traditional games are not only enjoyable, they also instill the spirit of teamwork and cooperation and enhance creativity, hence strengthening the bonds of relationships. But sadly in today's time of rising technology, traditional games are almost forgotten. Now, Upin & Ipin along with their friends are featured in postage stamps themed with these traditional games in hopes of introducing them to the current generation as well as bringging back nostalgic memoried for adults all over.
Batu Seremban
Batu seremban or five stones is a traditional game usually played by girls at the verandah, inside the house or any surface area that is flat and clean for the players to sit and play. The game requires five stones or any five small objects known as 'buah' to play with. Besides the common five 'buah', players can also choose to play with seven or nine 'buah', depending on what type of game they are playing.
The player will be sitting on the floor and 'buah' will be scattered on the floor. Then, one player will is to throw the 'buah' into the air one at a time and sweeping other 'buah' from the floor, catching the one that has been thrown before it reaches the ground using only one hand. This game starts with sweeping only one stone at a time, gradually adding the number of stones to sweep until completing the five / seven / nine 'buah' as the game gets more complicated. The first person to complete every level of the game wins.
Congkak
Another game usually played by young girls is called congkak. Most of the love to play this game because of its fun and easy game-play. Marbles / saga seeds / small stones are used as tokens to be filled in every hole (also known as 'kampung') of the congkak board. The main goal is to collect as many tokens as they can to be filled into the 'houses' (also known as the 'ibu') located at each end of the board. Players will be seated directly opposite each other facing the board. Players will start playing simultaneously by taking the tokens out of one of the holes and putting one into each consecutive holes starting from right to left until they reach the kampung of their opponent. They will continue to do so until they run out of tokens that are collected at their respective ibu. The player who has collected the most tokens in their house wins the game.
Galah Panjang
Galah panjang is not an individual traditional game. It requires two separate teams of attackers and defenders. Each teams usually consists of no less than four players, thus the game is played by about ten players. Every player is required to run past all defending lines, from the first line to the last and run back towards the first line without any physical contact with the opposing team. If any member of the opposing team manages to touch any player, the player is considered 'dead' and out of the game. This game is played not only by children, but also by adults as this game often brings back cheerful nostalgic memories for them.
Batu Seremban
Batu seremban or five stones is a traditional game usually played by girls at the verandah, inside the house or any surface area that is flat and clean for the players to sit and play. The game requires five stones or any five small objects known as 'buah' to play with. Besides the common five 'buah', players can also choose to play with seven or nine 'buah', depending on what type of game they are playing.
The player will be sitting on the floor and 'buah' will be scattered on the floor. Then, one player will is to throw the 'buah' into the air one at a time and sweeping other 'buah' from the floor, catching the one that has been thrown before it reaches the ground using only one hand. This game starts with sweeping only one stone at a time, gradually adding the number of stones to sweep until completing the five / seven / nine 'buah' as the game gets more complicated. The first person to complete every level of the game wins.
Congkak
Another game usually played by young girls is called congkak. Most of the love to play this game because of its fun and easy game-play. Marbles / saga seeds / small stones are used as tokens to be filled in every hole (also known as 'kampung') of the congkak board. The main goal is to collect as many tokens as they can to be filled into the 'houses' (also known as the 'ibu') located at each end of the board. Players will be seated directly opposite each other facing the board. Players will start playing simultaneously by taking the tokens out of one of the holes and putting one into each consecutive holes starting from right to left until they reach the kampung of their opponent. They will continue to do so until they run out of tokens that are collected at their respective ibu. The player who has collected the most tokens in their house wins the game.
Galah Panjang
Galah panjang is not an individual traditional game. It requires two separate teams of attackers and defenders. Each teams usually consists of no less than four players, thus the game is played by about ten players. Every player is required to run past all defending lines, from the first line to the last and run back towards the first line without any physical contact with the opposing team. If any member of the opposing team manages to touch any player, the player is considered 'dead' and out of the game. This game is played not only by children, but also by adults as this game often brings back cheerful nostalgic memories for them.
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