Revitalization of Malay Kingdoms in West Kalimantan

Sanggau, MelayuOnline.com- Malay adat and culture are two important things greatly influencing the existence of Malay kingdoms in West Kalimantan. As the uniqueness and the glory of Malay kingdoms are established also upon those two factors, adat and culture need to be revitalized immediately and ceaselessly.

The revitalization can take form in documentation, inventory, and preservation of Malay Kingdoms‘ culture aiming at gaining a better future either on spiritual and economic prosperity. Consequently, it demands greatly mutual cooperation between the royals‘ heirs and some other influential institutions like provincial government, cultural institutions, and common people.

The awareness of the effort to preserve Malay kingdoms‘ cultural heritages like above appeared in a meeting attended by the King of Ismahayana Palace, Drs. Gusti Suryansyah, M.Si.; the Prince of Surya Negara Senggau Palace, Drs. H. Gusti Arman, M.Si.; the fifth Sultan of Kesuma Negara, H.R.M. Ikhsan Perdana; and seven crews of the Center for Research and Development of Malay Culture (BKPBM).

This unceremonious meeting took place in a hotel lobby wherein the crews stayed during attending West Kalimantan Malay Cultural Festival (FBMKB), July 21-24, 2008. The meeting underwent in a friendly atmosphere even though on the other side, a political meeting of other people also took place in the same room. Hence, the meeting was moved to Gusti Arman‘s residential place nearby the hotel.

While tasting delicious sate Sanggau, the dialogue between BKPBM and those kings went ahead smoothly. Suryansyah – who is also the Chairman of West Kalimantan Kings Communication Forum – said in West Kalimantan, all kings are now actively attempting to revitalize royal culture which begins to be ignored after Japanese occupation in the 1940s.  

“We are not going to revive new feudalism, we want to preserve and guard our cultural wealth to establish a better future,” Suryansyah said.

Responding Suryansyah‘s remark, Mahyudin suggested all people to not only preserve physical heritages, but also intangible cultural heritages. Expectantly, it would not solely safeguard the entity of Malay kingdoms in West Kalimantan but can also be a medium to reach spiritual and economical prosperity.

Further Mahyudin said, “We are ready to “back-up” those cultural preservation works through the internet by MelayuOnline.com. As well, we are also available to set real cooperation with other institution concerning with the effort to protect Malay culture in West Kalimantan.”

Gusti Arman, replying Mahyudin‘s remark, conveyed that he would cordially give the widest opportunity to BKPBM to explore the entire Malay heritages in Surya Negara Palace. Even, he would also grant all data relating to his palace to be published on MelayuOnline.com.

Since then after receiving such cordial welcome from Gusti Arman, the crews were invited to visit Surya Negara Palace. In that place, the crews observed carefully the whole parts of the palace to record and to take some photographs of the detail of the palace.  An incredible experience ever as not every single person is allowed to enter the palace before the king gives allowance.

(AS/brt/5/07-08) (NI/ter/18/07-08)

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