RI, Malaysian scouts meet in cultural jamboree

Padang, Indonesia - A total of 1,100 Indonesian and 677 Malaysian scouts participated in a two-country cultural Jamboree here Tuesday.

The five-day jamboree was centered at the Istano Basa Pagaruyung camping ground, Tanah Datar district, West Sumatra Province.

The opening ceremony was attended by Youth and Sports Minister Andi Alfian Mallarangeng.

Mallarangeng said the meeting and interaction between Indonesian and Malaysian scouts during the jamboree could strengthen the two nations` friendship.

He said the two countries` relationship should remain maintained well despite "small problems" that sometimes affected their ties.

As neighboring countries, such minor problems were common and natural."As neighbors, there always are small problems. It is impossible to have problems with countries in Europe because they are quite far away from us," he said.

However, the small problems should be handled wisely so that they would not become bigger and threaten the two countries` solid relationship, which had been built since decades ago, he said.

"We share a common interest in maintaining the two countries` solid relationship. That is why the Indonesian government appreciate the holding of this cultural jamboree," he said.

The jamboree was expected to build a closer relationship at the people-to-people level, he said.

In another part of his remarks, Andi Mallarangeng touched on the reasons for choosing West Sumatra as the host of the event.

He said the province had beautiful scenery, a long history with the Unitary State of Indonesia and historical linkages with Malaysia.

West Sumatra had even produced lots of noted intellectuals. The first modern school for Indonesian women was also built in the province.

"With the sultanates of Malaysia, West Sumatra also has historical ties," he said.

A lot of ancestors of Malaysian society came from West Sumatra. There were even Minangkabau people in the neighboring country who bore aristocratic Malaysian titles, he said.

The jamboree`s opening ceremony was attended by head of Indonesian Scouting Movement as well as West Sumatra province`s top government officials and legislators.

Representing Malaysia were, among others, Malacca`s chief minister Datuk Sri M Ali bin M Rustam and Head of Malaysian Scouting Movement Datuk Seri M Syafie Bin Salle.(*)

Source: http://www.antaranews.com
Picture: http://scout-info.blogspot.com

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