Echoes of Tradition: PADAT’s Strategies for Selangor Cempuling Music Preservation

Selangor, the most developed and populous state in Malaysia, is currently inhabited by about 7.4 million people of various ethnicities and is often referred to as a melting pot of cultures. However, much of its cultural heritage is on the verge of extinction due to the influence of technological advancements and the declining interest of younger generations. Recognising the importance of preserving these cultural traditions and heritage, the Selangor state government established the Perbadanan Adat Melayu dan Warisan Negeri Selangor (PADAT), formerly known as the Selangor Museum Board. Since its founding in 2009, PADAT has made numerous efforts to not only preserve but also promote the various cultural traditions of the people of Selangor, including the traditional music known as cempuling. Thus, this paper intends to examine PADAT's strategies to preserve cempuling music, focusing on the period between 2014 and 2024. This research utilises a qualitative approach, collecting data through participant observations, document analysis, and interviews with PADAT officers and musicians. The findings show that PADAT adopts a community- and education-centred approach, complemented by robust information management practices to promote and sustain cempuling music of Selangor.