Visit of Asosiasi Tradisi Lisan (ATL) to BKPBM

Yogyakarta, MelayuOnline.com – Prof. Dr. Pudentia, MPSS., M.A, the chairman of Asosiasi Tradisi Lisan-ATL (Oral Traditions Association), was surprised as she was given a special welcome by Balai Kajian dan Pengembangan Budaya Melayu-BKPBM (Center for Research and Development of Malay Culture) during her visit to the center, Saturday (29/03/2008). She expressed her happiness in the opening remark before the staff and crew of MelayuOnline.com. At the onset, she only intended to look closely the activities of BKPBM and have an informal talk with the Head of BKPBM, Mahyudin Al Mudra, S.H., M.M. “I hope this meeting would be our first meeting of consecutive cooperation in the future”, she said.

In her visit, Prof. Pudentia was accompanied by Prof. Dr. Dick van der Meij, ATL Consultant and Visiting Professor in Universitas Islam Negeri-UIN Syarif Hidayatullah (Islamic State University), Jakarta. Dick was favorably impressed with the classical architecture of BKPBM office, incorporated with modern design features, and still keeps the Malay nuance. Among the entourage were PR of ATL Kenedy Nurhan, and Nurhadi from Studio Audio Visual Puskat Yogyakarta. 

During the dialogue conducted in the meeting room of BKPBM, Mahyudin introduced all of BKPBM crew and redactors. In addition, he also explained the activities of BKPBM such as publishing books, and launching some websites on Malay (www.melayuonline.com, www.wisatamelayu.com, and www.rajaalihaji.com). To date, about 76 titles of Malay folk story, intended for the children, have been published. One of the monumental works of BKPBM is to publish a book under title “366 Cerita Rakyat Nusantara” (366 Folktales of Nusantara). Besides, BKPBM also had published book “Masyaralat Melayu dan Budaya Melayu dalam Perubahan”.  

The second main project of BKPBM is the portal of www.melayuonline.com, which provides detail information on Malay history, culture, figure, researcher, culinary, encyclopedia, etc. Besides, BKPBM also has already launched two other portals: www.wisatamelayu.com and www.rajaalihaji.com. The first provides information on the tourism sites in the Malay regions while the second presents the academic studies on the biography and thoughts of Raja Ali Haji, one of the prominent and influential figures on the Malay culture. 

Mahyudin‘s presentation on the BKPBM ‘s activities was appreciated and appraised by the entourage. Kenedy Nurhan, a Malayan from South Sumatra, said that the portal was very helpful for him. “For me, www.melayuonline.com has provided lot of articles on Malay, enriching me with abundant information. I am a Malayan who is not Malay (know little about Malay)” commented Kenedy. He also said that he often cited the pantun (Malay quatrain) shown in the home of www.melayuonline.com. “Every time I visit the portal (www.melayuonline.com), I look at the upper right side of pantun. Proudly I chant those pantun in front of my friends in the office, convincing them that I am a pantun expert,” said Kenedy.      

Prof Pudentia, commonly called Yunda Tety, showed his admiration for BKPBM. “Amazing, it is an attempt to maintain a commitment. I do know that to remain on the same commitment is not an easy task, many challenges will be obstacles, but the result will be satisfying at the end” praised Yunda Tety. Similar comment passed by Prof. Dick. “There is one word reflecting my feeling, I am amazed” he said. However, he said that the socialization of the center should be increased. As a professor of Indonesian Language in Leiden University, he did not know BKPBM as a center studying the Malay culture.  Therefore, BKPBM should maximize the public media to make the center known publicly. He also suggested BKPBM to initiate close relation with foreign Embassies, international agencies such as UNESCO, and intensify relation with Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore. Those countries also have Malay origin and high concern on the Malay culture.

The visit was closed by presenting some gifts, book under title Masyarakat Melayu dan Budaya Melayu dalam Perubahan, several books of folktales for children, to the entourage of ATL. In her closing remark, Prof Pudentia made promise to send some books published by ATL

(HQ/ter/103/03-08)

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