Introduction: A Scholar, A Warrior, A Cultural Ambassador

The global narrative of martial arts is often shaped by cinematic icons and ancient traditions—but in Malaysia, it is increasingly defined by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohamad Nizam Mohamed Shapie, a leading academic, silat warrior, and global advocate for Seni Silat Melayu Asli. At the recent Sports Media Conference 2025 (SMC 2025), held at M World Hotel, Petaling Jaya, Dr. Nizam once again brought silat to the international spotlight—not just as a cultural performance, but as a scholarly discipline and strategic tool of soft power.

Representing Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), PASSMAL, and his global affiliations with UNESCO ICM and IMACSSS, Dr. Nizam’s participation reaffirmed Malaysia’s leadership in martial arts diplomacy.

The Event: Where Sports Meets Culture

Organized under the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), the SMC 2025 featured an elite lineup of speakers, masterclasses, and broadcasters from across Asia and beyond. Dr. Nizam’s contribution was scheduled in the Opening Ceremony (0920–0930), where he co-led a cultural silat performance that captivated a diverse international audience of media executives, rights holders, sports officials, and scholars.

The performance, curated by The Malaysian Organization of Authentic Malay Silat Arts (PASSMAL), served as a visual and philosophical expression of Malay martial tradition.

Highlighting Malay Silat in Three Acts

🌸 1. Bunga Silat

The showcase began with Bunga Silat—a ceremonial form symbolizing the mental and spiritual grounding of a silat practitioner. This performance reflected Dr. Nizam’s long-standing philosophy that silat is as much a discipline of the soul as it is of the body.

🥋 2. Silat Pulut

The second performance featured Malaysia’s rising silat stars: Puteri Eimaan Safiyya and Mohamad Aisy Luqman, both national champions of the 2023 and 2024 National Silat Competitions. This youth-centric act echoed Dr. Nizam’s academic research on sports development, pedagogy, and talent pathways in traditional martial arts, particularly through his initiatives at UiTM and PASSMAL.

⚔️ 3. The Art of War – of Malay Silat

The climax was a full-contact, tactical silat performance titled The Art of War of Malay Silat, co-performed by Dr. Nizam himself alongside Hazim Samsudin, PASSMAL’s National Head Coach. This segment was more than choreography—it was a demonstration of battlefield strategy, weapon mastery, and close-quarter combat drawn from silat’s original function as a warrior’s art.

It marked the rare occasion where a UNESCO expert, IMACSSS board member, and academic stepped into the ring—not only to teach, but to perform.

Global Impact and Academic Legacy

Dr. Nizam’s involvement as both performer and thought leader positioned him uniquely at the intersection of cultural heritage, academic rigor, and international advocacy. As a:

• Board Member of the International Martial Arts and Combat Sports Scientific Society (IMACSSS), and
• Panel Expert on Seni Silat for the UNESCO International Centre of Martial Arts for Youth Development and Engagement (UNESCO ICM),

he continues to champion Malay Silat beyond borders—through research publications, keynote speeches, and live demonstrations like this.

The performance resonated with international delegates and media leaders, many of whom expressed interest in integrating cultural martial arts into future broadcasting and education initiatives.

Conclusion: From Malaysia to the World

Dr. Mohamad Nizam’s role at SMC 2025 was not just a performance—it was a message. Silat is not only Malaysia’s cultural treasure but also a relevant, research-backed, and globally respected martial art.

Through platforms like SMC, UNESCO, and IMACSSS, Dr. Nizam continues to lead the way in elevating Malay Silat from a local tradition to a global academic and cultural movement.