Community folk songs form a cornerstone of the oral literature and intangible heritage of the Malay community in Terengganu. Yet, the preservation of these traditional musical expressions has been threatened by the pressures of modernization and the erosion of communal traditions. This study seeks to document, preserve, and reinterpret Terengganu’s folk songs as living cultural narratives within Malaysia’s heritage framework. Employing a qualitative ethnographic design, data were obtained through interviews with key cultural informants and participant observation, and analysed using NVivo 12 software. The research systematically identifies and classifies the thematic patterns of these folk songs, highlighting their moral, cultural, and social functions in constructing community identity and sustaining collective memory. The findings indicate that Terengganu’s folk songs encapsulate wisdom, values, and traditional worldviews that extend beyond entertainment. This study offers new insights into Malay oral traditions and provides a valuable foundation for cultural policy and heritage preservation initiatives.
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