Participants Much Prefer Globalization and Malay Politics of Identity to the Others

Yogyakarta, MelayuOnline.com- Three months since the first publication, International Academic Writing Competition (LKTI) held by the Center for Research and Development of Malay Culture (BKPBM) in cooperation with the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies of Gadjah Mada University (PSSAT-UGM), has successfully collected 15 papers on the committee‘s desk.

Most of the participants prefer to explore “Globalization and Malay Politics of Identity” rather than examine other four themes: ASEAN Role in the Developing of Multiculturalism, Popular Malay Image, Malay Diaspora, and Gender Issues on Modern Malay World.

Such a fact indicates public high interests in globalisation and political identity cases. “Perhaps this is a response to the endless penetration of globalization towards local culture, including Malay culture,” Nursaed Ali Rido – chief-in-editor of MelayuOnline.com – said. However, he added, the participants‘ responses not only focus on impacts of globalization, but also on the opportunity of expressing Malay locality by taking advantages of globalization.

For that reason, new thoughts on globalization and multiculturalism become important to respond social condition of Southeast Asia, which is more complex and heterogenic. The committee predicts the number of participants would creep up higher with the fresh, critical, and factual insights about the recent Malay society.         

So far the committee has spread publications since the midst of August 2008 through MelayuOnline.com and the official website of PSSAT-UGM on www.pssat.ugm.ac.id. Likewise, the committee has scheduled for wider publications through mailing lists covering Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Indonesia.

The winners will be announced on February 28^th, 2009 through www.melayuonline.com and www.pssat.ugm.ac.id. IDR 25 million of total prizes will go to the winners with the following details; IDR 10 million – for the first winner (from the University of Sains Malaysia); IDR seven million – for the first runner up; IDR five million – for the second runner up; and IDR three millions – for the third runner up.

On March 20^th, 2009, the winners are cordially invited to attend the awarding ceremony that will be held along with a seminar and birthday party to celebrate the 1^st anniversary of RajaAliHaji.com.

Khidir Marsanto (brt/15/10-08)

Irfan Nugroho (ter/73/10-08)

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