Research Report of :

Malay Traditional Games

Sepak Raga

Prepared by :
Raid Nasri B Abd Razak
58265209104

IPROM Design Studio

Abstract
Intro

Sepak raga is the Malaysian traditional game. It is a popular game for

villagers long time ago, now its still be played. The existing sepak raga ball are
not safe for the kids because it has sharp edges and can break apart easily.
Can’t be played for those who did’nt have skills and not suitable to be played
indoor, for example in a house. So not all people can play sepak raga, especially
kids.

Main purpose

The main purpose of this project is to make a new sepak raga ball that
has modern design and more easier to play by kids.

Objective

Designing a new sepak raga ball that fun to be played. Can be played by
kids, adults and hand disabled people without skills needed.

Design statement

To develop a Malaysian traditional game by adopting new technology,

features and new design.

Conclusion

This game has to be developed to avoid it from extinction.

Table of Contents
 Page

1) Malaysian culture 4

2) Mind mapping 9

3) The game 10

4) The ball
 The existing ball 13
 The hand woven ball 14

5) The idea (product specific research) 15

6) Research, data and analysis 17

7) Conclusion 18

8) Design statement and design objective 18

9) Reference 19

Malaysian Culture
 Cultures have been meeting and mixing in Malaysia since the very
beginning of its history. More than fifteen hundred years ago a Malay kingdom
in Bujang Valley welcomed traders from China and India. With the arrival of
gold and silks, Buddhism and Hinduism also came to Malaysia. A thousand
years later, Arab traders arrived in Malacca and brought with them the
principles and practices of Islam. By the time the Portuguese arrived in
Malaysia, the empire that they encountered was more cosmopolitan than their
own. 

Malaysia's cultural mosaic is marked by many different cultures, but

several in particular have had especially lasting influence on the country. Chief
among these is the ancient Malay culture, and the cultures of Malaysia's two
most prominent trading partners throughout history--the Chinese, and the
Indians. These three groups are joined by a dizzying array of indigenous tribes,
many of which live in the forests and coastal areas of Borneo. Although each of
these cultures has vigorously maintained its traditions and community
structures, they have also blended together to create contemporary Malaysia's
uniquely diverse heritage. 

One example of the complexity with which Malaysia's immigrant

populations have contributed to the nation's culture as a whole is the history of
Chinese immigrants. The first Chinese to settle in the straits, primarily in and
around Malacca, gradually adopted elements of Malaysian culture and
intermarried with the Malaysian community. Known as babas and nonyas, they
eventually produced a synthetic set of practices, beliefs, and arts, combining
Malay and Chinese traditions in such a way as to create a new culture. Later
Chinese, coming to exploit the tin and rubber booms, have preserved their
culture much more meticulously. A city like Penang, for example, can often give
one the impression of being in China rather than in Malaysia. 

Another example of Malaysia's extraordinary cultural exchange the

Malay wedding ceremony, which incorporates elements of the Hindu traditions
of southern India; the bride and groom dress in gorgeous brocades, sit in state,
and feed each other yellow rice with hands painted with henna. Muslims have
adapted the Chinese custom of giving little red packets of money (ang pau) at
festivals to their own needs; the packets given on Muslim holidays are green
and have Arab writing on them. 

You can go from a Malaysian kampung to a rubber plantation worked by

Indians to Penang's Chinese kongsi and feel you've traveled through three
nations. But in cities like Kuala Lumpur, you'll find everyone in a grand melange.
In one house, a Chinese opera will be playing on the radio; in another they're
preparing for Muslim prayers; in the next, the daughter of the household
readies herself for classical Indian dance lessons. 

Perhaps the easiest way to begin to understand the highly complex

cultural interaction which is Malaysia is to look at the open door policy
maintained during religious festivals. Although Malaysia's different cultural
traditions are frequently maintained by seemingly self-contained ethnic
communities, all of Malaysia's communities open their doors to members of
other cultures during a religious festival--to tourists as well as neighbors. Such
inclusiveness is more than just a way to break down cultural barriers and foster
understanding. It is a positive celebration of a tradition of tolerance that has for
millennia formed the basis of Malaysia's progress. 

External cultural influences have made the least impact in music,

dancing, literature, and the decorative arts. In East Malaysia the indigenous
cultural background includes no written history or literature. Architecture is
little developed, and the principal art forms are dancing and handicrafts,
represented notably by the textiles handwoven by the Punan tribe, cloth made
by the Bajau people, patterned rattan mats and basketwork, and wood
carvings.

Particularly on the peninsula, the artistic manifestations of Malay culture

are mainly in literature, music, dancing, and the decorative arts. Painting and
sculpture are poorly developed, primarily because Islam does not encourage
the representation of the human form. Examples of Malay decorative arts
include batik cloth (cloth hand-dyed by using a special technique), silverware,
the handmade kris (a short sword or heavy dagger with a wavy blade), wood
carving, and basketwork. Malaysian Chinese culture is derived from Chinese
civilization and is represented by literature, drama, music, painting, and
architecture. Some Malaysian artists—of Malay, Chinese, and Indian origin—
also have begun to produce new, synthesized, and distinctively Malaysian art
forms, especially in painting and architecture.

Malaysians strong sense of community is reflected in many of their

traditional games and pastimes. These activities are usually held during
festivities such as before or after the rice harvest season and to usher in the
new spring :
Silat
This fascinating Malay martial art is also an international sport and traditional
dance form. Existing in the Malay Archipelago for centuries, it has mesmerising
fluid movements that are used to confuse opponents. It is believed that
practising silat will increase one's spiritual strength in accordance with Islamic
tenets. Accompanied by drums and gongs, this ancient art is popularly
performed at Malay weddings and cultural festivals.

Sepak Takraw
Sepak takraw, also known as sepak raga, is a traditional ball game in which a
ball made by weaving strips of buluh bamboo or rattan together is passed
about using any part of the body except the lower arms and hands. There are
two main types of sepak takraw: bulatan and jaring. Sepak raga bulatan is the
original form in which players form a circle and try to keep the ball in the air as
long as possible. Sepak takraw jaring is the modern version in which the ball is
passed across a court over a high net.

Wau
A wau is a traditional kite that is especially popular in the state of Kelantan on
the East Coast of Malaysia. Traditionally flown after the rice harvest season,
these giant kites are often as big as a man - measuring about 3.5 metres from
head to tail. It is called wau because its shape is similar to the Arabic letter that
is pronounced as 'wow'. With vibrant colours and patterns based on local floral
and fauna, these kites are truly splendid sights.

Gasing
A gasing is a giant spinning top that weigh approximately 5kg or 10lbs and may
be as large as a dinner plate. Traditionally played before the rice harvest
season, this game requires strength, co-ordination and skill. The top is set
spinning by unfurling a rope that has been wound around it. Then it is scooped
off the ground, whilst still spinning, using a wooden bat with a centre slit and
transferred onto a low post with a metal receptacle. If expertly hurled, it can
spin for up to 2 hours.

Wayang kulit
Wayang kulit is a traditional theatre form that brings together the playfulness
of a puppet show, and the elusive quality and charming simplicity of a shadow
play. The flat two-dimensional puppets are intricately carved, then painted, by
hand out of cow or buffalo hide. Each puppet, a stylised exaggeration of the
human shape, is given a distinctive appearance and not unlike its string puppet
cousins, has jointed "arms". Conducted by a singular master storyteller called
Tok Dalang, wayang kulit usually dramatises ancient Indian epics.

Congkak
Congkak is a game of wit played by womenfolk in ancient times that required
no more than holes in the earth and tamarind seeds. Today, it has been refined
to a board game. It consists of a wooden board with two rows of five, seven, or
nine holes and two large holes at both ends called "home". Congkak, played
with shells, pebbles or tamarind seeds, requires two players

Chingay
Famously from the state of Penang, Chingay or The Giant Flags Procession is a
spectacular procession that celebrates the arrival of spring during the New Year
season. Its trademark elements are giant triangular flags and lanterns. These
flags equally huge poles are balanced on performers foreheads, chins, lower
jaws and shoulders. Other entertainers include dancers, jugglers and magicians.

Sepak manggis
Sepak manggis is a unique outdoor game played by the Bajau and Iranun men
of Sabah. Forming a circle and facing each other, players aim to strike the
bunga manggis floral carrier that dangles from a 10-metre high pole. The
winner will be rewarded with money, gift or edibles, which are in the carrier.

The Game (Sepak Raga)

Intro
There are 2 types of sepak raga:

a) Sepak raga bulat/ratus

o Minimum player is 2 person and maximum player is 8 person

o The players juggle the ball as many times they can and pass the
ball to the other player in a circle
o The ball cannot touch the ground, if the ball touch the ground they
have to start counting again
o In a certain games, who made the ball touch the ground will be
punished

b) Sepak raga tuju

o Popular in the northern Malaysia, such as Kedah and Perak

o More difficult than sepak raga bulat/ratus because they have to
pass the ball sharply, it make the ball more difficult to take by the
other player
o The player have to juggle the ball not more than 3 times, after that
they must pass the ball to other player
o The other aspects in this game is exactly the same with sepak raga
bulat/ratus
 The player juggle the ball and pass to other player, mostly to
the player in front of him

o In this game, the players are allowed juggle the ball using their feet,
knee, head, chest and shoulder
o ‘Timbang sila’ and ‘timbang kuda’ is a type of juggle in sepak raga
o Sepak raga is actually an old sport, now there is a game using the same
ball, its called ‘sepak takraw’

Timbang kuda

The Ball

The Existing Ball

The original sepak raga ball were made from rattan

For international sepak takraw game:

o The ball must have 12 holes

o Have 20 intersections
o Have a circumference measuring not less from 0.42 meters to 0.44 m for
men and from 0.43 m to 0.45 m for women
o Have a weight that range from 170 grams to 180 grams for men and
from 150 grams to 160 grams for women
o The ball can be in plain single colour, multi-colour, and luminous colours,
but not in any colour that will impair the performance of the players
o The sepak takraw ball can also be constructed of synthetic rubber or soft
durable material for covering the ball, for the purpose of softening the
impact of the ball on the player’s body.
o The type of material and method used for constructing the ball, or for
covering the ball with rubber or soft durable covering must be approved
by ISTAF before it can be used for any competition.

The Hand Woven Ball

The rattan takraw ball was found to break

apart and splinter fairly quickly with the
introduction of hard spike kicks when the net
game developed

This led to the making of synthetic balls, still hand-woven and still designed the
same as their rattan predecessors

There are various synthetic brands of takraw balls, including:

 o Buka
o Marathon
o Rambo
o Gajah Emas
o NETPRO®
o The NETPRO® series starts with the Beginner Ball, which is very
light weight and the synthetic strips are loosely woven and made
up of a thinner, softer material (suitable for kids)
o Pro Ball for the men's division, is a little heavier than the previous
one (providing more control) and the synthetic strips are a bit
thicker, harder and woven together more tightly

The Idea (Product Specific Research)

Who will use the product?

 Adult
 Kids
 Sepak takraw player
 Hand-disabled people
Where will the product be used?

 Indoor
o Home, hall

 Outdoor
o Sandy area, court, grassy area, parking lot

Why is the product needed?

o The existing ball can’t be played by hand-disabled people

o The existing ball can break apart easily
o The existing ball are not safe to play by kids, has many sharp edge
o To play sepak raga, skills are needed
o The existing ball are using rattan, it hurts the player feet and head when
they playing it
o The existing can’t be played indoor or in narrow area because its quite
heavy and has hard surface

What precisely does the product have to do?

a) Fun to play
b) Can be play by all ages especially kids
c) Different material, softer and lighter
d) Can be played indoor
e) No need to use hand to throw the ball
f) Suitable for hand disabled person

How to use the product?

 o Can be juggled by feet, head, knee, chest, shoulder
o Same like using the existing sepak raga ball
o The ball can be lift up just using feet, no need to use hand
o The ball will fall vertically because of its weight is focused on its vertical
edge, this will make it easier to be juggled and more fun

Research, Data and Analysis

What do they want?

a) Sepak raga can be played by disabled

b) The ball have to redesigned to make it suitable for the disabled, many
kind of disability
c) Make sepak raga easier to play, because the existing ball are not user
friendly, it hurt the player head and feet when they kick it hardly
 d) Design the ball just for sepak raga, not for sepak takraw, because sepak
takraw ball has its own measurement
e) Sepak raga can be played by kids
f) No skills needed to play sepak raga

Features they want the product to have

g) Fun to play
h) Can be play by all ages especially kids
i) Different material, softer and lighter
j) Can be played indoor
k) No need to use hand to throw the ball
l) Suitable for hand disabled person

Appearance

a) Different shape from existing ball

b) Interesting colours, suitable for kids
c) Minimal and simple design

Ergonomic considerations

a) No sharp edges
b) Lighter from the existing ball

Conclusion
Design Statement

To develop a Malaysian traditional game by adopting new technology,

features and new design.

Design Objective

Designing a new sepak raga ball that fun to be played. Can be played by
kids, adults and hand disabled people without skills needed.

Reference

1)http://www.geographia.com/malaysia/cultures.html

2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Malaysia

3) http://www.traveldocs.com/my/culture.htm