Bandar Seri Begawan - Over 130 direct royal descendants, including those from the Sultanates of the old kingdoms, chief of Royal Customs and representatives from all over Indonesia, are in the country to attend the 'Senusantara and Borneo' (Inter-Archipelago and Borneo) Cultural Forum - Brunei Chapter set to run until October 8.

The delegations, among others, hail from the Sultanate of Pontianak, Sultanate of Sambas, Sultanate of Asahan, Sultanate of Bulungan, Sultanate of Berau, Sultanate of Pelembang Darussalam and large number of delegation from the "Government" of Landak, Tayan, Simpang, Ketapang, Sanggau, Sambas, Beutong Benggalang, Siak Sri Inderaoura, Gunung Sahilan, Jembrana, Buleleng, Klungkung, Bangli, Tabanan, Sandrobone, Pamana, Adat Sidrap, Adat Ammatoa, Bulukumba, Siang, Sawito and Gowa.

The forum officially opened last night at the Holiday Lodge Hotel, seeing also the attendance of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Hazair bin Hj Abdullah.

In his speech, the minister praised the efforts to organise such a forum, which he believes is important not only in tackling issues, but also enhancing understanding, knowledge and links of the cultural legacy of the kingdoms in the Malay Archipelago and the whole of the Nusantara.

In his speech, the minister said that in the global demography, the Malay Language is part of the larger community of Austronesia that occupied and spread as far as the Easter Island in the east until Madagascar Island in the west, and as far as Taiwan in the north until New Zealand in the south.

He said, the Malay Language has a tremendous level of history.

Looking at the importance of the Malay Language and its relation with the rest of the world, there were many Malay dictionaries produced by foreigners, he said, adding that there were also many changes made to the language due to influences from foreign powers.

That history recorded the trimetric journey of culture, social and politic, which is useful to reposition the positive values practised in a social system.

The minister also believes the new generation has the responsibility to utilise modern technology to support and enhance the Malay culture.

The Malay culture also contains valuable legacy that can become high-value asset and relevant in the development of info-telecommunications technology and creative industry that is starting to surface in the world today.