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THE DEVELOPMENT OF SILAT SENI GAYONG MALAYSIA (PSSGM).
To see the article with pictures you can click here or the yashai forum Silat Seni Gayong was formulated and founded by Mahaguru Dato' Meor Abdul Rahman bin Uda Mohd Hashim. He was of bugis decent born in 1915 and was the great-grandson of Daeng Kuning, commonly known as Panglima Hitam. Meor Abdul Rahman began learning the knowledge of silat at the age of twelve from his grandfather Tuan Syed Zainal Syed Idris Al-Attas. Syed Zainal is one of the warriors who fought against the British colonialism of the 19th century, in Pahang. Syed Zainal inherited his silat knowledge from Daeng Ambok Solok, a bugis warrior residing in Jambi Sumatra at that time. For three years, Meor Abdul Rahman trained and learned with other students of Syed Zanial. At 19, Meor Abdul Rahman successfully achieved the understanding and the 'selok-belok' (the ins and outs), the art of seni gayong. However, his grandfather did not perform the "ritual of authorisation" of silat gayong on him, as he had foreseen in a prophecy that Meor Abdul Rahman will have this ritual performed on him by a greater (unseen) warrior. In 1936, the "ritual of authorisation" was performed on Mahaguru Meor Abdul Rahman by none other than the legendary Hang Tuah. Needless to say, this was an incident on the meta-physical (spiritual) level. Some stories report that the whole ceremony took place in a kind of "dream". This incident occurred on a large black rock by the river at Hutan Menam (now Southern Thailand). All the secrets and knowledge of Silat were transmitted to him and he was given the trust to teach and spread Silat Seni Gayong to the best of his ability. Meor Abdul Rahman was given the title Panglima Sendo (invincible warrior), by his Royal Highness Sultan Alang Iskandar, after demonstrating his skills and ability to the royal court and dignitaries. The Sultan was so impressed and pleased by Meor Abdul Rahman that he took him as his adopted son. Meor Abdul Rahman stayed at the palace until the Sultan's death in 1938. In 1938, Meor Abdul Rahman moved to Singapore looking for work. There
he found work at the British Royal Signal Corp Barrack, Killman, Woodland.
From there he later became the un-armed combat instructor to the British
soldiers. When the Japanese army attacked Singapore in 1942, Meor Abdul
Rahman escaped with his family to Pulau Sudong (island south of Singapore).
He underwent much hardship and trials before finally being allowed to
reside there. Being a "lawless" island, Silat Seni Gayong was
much needed for the protection of one self and the community; therefore
the art was re-introduced to the community. In 1943 Meor Abdul Rahman was captured and imprisoned by the occupying
Japanese Army. He was charged with treason against the Imperial Army and
was sentenced to death by hanging. (This followed an incident in which
Mahaguru 'fought off' a Japanese officer who had made rude advances towards
his wife.) When the Japanese surrendered in 1945, Meor Abdul Rahman and his family migrated yet again to Pulau Sudong. He was offered to become the 'Headman' of the island. During these years, Silat Seni Gayong spread to the neighbouring islands including those in Indonesian territories. The year 1947 saw the appointment of Meor Abdul Rahman as an investigator with the Crime Investigation Department in Singapore. In this year too, he was awarded the 'King George VI' medal, an honour from the British Government, for his service in fighting the Japanese occupation of Singapore. In 1948 he actively spread Silat gayong throughout Singapore and on to the Malay Peninsula. After retiring from the police force, Meor Abdul Rahman established the first Silat Gayong Training School, at Lorong Fatimah, Woodland, Singapore. It was here that the early teachers or gurulatih of Gayong underwent their training.
In 1959, Meor Abdul Rahman met Dato' Onn bin Ja'afar, the founder of
UMNO (United Malay National Organization), who offered himself to be a
disciple of Silat Gayong. Dato' Onn suggested that Silat Gayong should
be registered legally as an organization. Efforts began to register Silat
Gayong and finally in 1963, this silat was officially registered as 'Pertubohan
Silat Seni Gayong Malaya' with the registration number, 361. PSSGM is
the first silat ever to be registered in Malaya. The Silat Seni Gayong Training School was moved from Singapore to Kota Sarang Semut, Kedah, when the Mahaguru moved there in 1964. In 1970, Silat Seni Gayong was invited by the Malaysian Government to
be part of the National Entourage for The '70 Expo in Osaka, Japan. The
Mahaguru and En. Razali Salleh (The Secretary General PSSGM then) accompanied
two Gayong exponents, Che'gu Mustapha Kamal and Che'gu Mohd. Norsaii ,for
the performances at the Expo, for two weeks. The Silat Demonstration was
received with much encouraging enthusiasm and even 'surprised The Emperor
Of Japan. And yet again, in 1971, The Silat Seni Gayong Training School moved to Air Kuning, Taiping Perak, when the Mahaguru moved there. Mahaguru Meor Abdul Rahman was then awarded the highest honour, The Dato' Paduka Cura Simanja Kini, by Sultan Idris Shah, the sultan of Perak. In this year as well, Silat Seni Gayong was introduced to the Malaysian Armed Forces. 87 personnel from the rank and file of the military underwent an intensive Silat Gayong training for six months at a military camp in Taiping. Upon completion, they were given authorization as teachers or Gurulatih of Silat Gayong and this Silat was taken to all the military camps in the country. Silat Seni Gayong was then introduced to The Royal Malaysian Police in 1973. A similar intensive training course was held for 48 police personnel from the lower ranks. Similarly, upon graduating, they were ordered to spread Silat Seni Gayong to all the Police training schools in Malaysia. In 1978, Mohammed Moncef Abdullah returned to his home in Tunisia, after acquiring the knowledge of Silat Seni Gayong in Malaysia. He is now responsible for propagating Silat Gayong in the Middle East. His students have been to Malaysia in the early 1990's to further their training in Silat Seni Gayong. In Western Australia Silat Gayong is being taught by Jan de Jong, an expert in the martial arts specializing on the Japanese systems. He had studied Silat Seni Gayong from Mahaguru Meor Abdul Rahman himself during the mid 80's. Che'gu Sulaiman Shariff and Che'gu Sheikh Shamsudin of Gayong America is responsible for promoting Silat Gayong in the USA from the early 1990's, although before that, Che'gu Shaharudin Abd. Hamid had introduced Seni Gayong to a few known martial artists there. Che'gu Mufti Ansari brought Silat Seni Gayong to Europe in the late 1980's. In the United Kingdom, Silat Gayong was taught by Che'gu Adlin from Negeri Sembilan. Beginning from middle of the year 2000, Gayong UK was formed and headed by Ketua Khalifah Tuan Haji Ariffin Mahidin. In July 2000, Silat Seni Gayong was established on the island of Mauritius by Che'gu Ridzuan Abdul Razak with blessings from Che'gu Siti Kalsom Dato' Meor Abdul Rahman. To date, two Gayong centres have been opened there.
 
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