Existing comment:
Tepak Sireh
Betel Quid Set. A symbol of Malaysia, her peoples, their heritage and national identity. Traditionally it is a container comprising several "cembuls" (covered condiment vessels) in which the ingredients necessary for betel chewing are kept Betel chewing is a custom practiced by several communities in Malaysia, significant as a means of social communication to the Malays. Betel is a leaf of a vine belonging to the Piperaceae family which includes pepper and Kava valued as a mild stimulant and for its medicinal properties. The Tepak Sireh is a symbol of welcome and hospitality, traits which Malaysians have long been identified with.
It consists of a main casing (representing Malaysia), which houses 14 cumbuls (covered condiment vessels) representing the 13 states and the Federal territories which make up Malaysia. While the main Tepak Sireh box houses all 14 cembuls, the actual display would exhibit the cembuls around the entral box on a tray supported by three Malay daggers, called "keris" and the Iban machiete called "parang". The four traditional knives symbolize the defense of the sovereignty of the Nation as well as the spirit of the Malays and the other peoples of Malaysia. |