The Celebration of MelayuOnline.com`s Second Anniversary: Four Malay “Heroines” Receive the 2009 MelayuOnline Awards

The four Malay “Heroines” who received the 2009 MelayuOnline Awards (left to right): Septina Primawati Rusli, Aida Zulaikha Nasution, Suryatati A. Manan, and Dr. Prudentia

Yogyakarta, MelayuOnline.com - Timed precisely with the celebration of MelayuOnline.com‘s second anniversary on Tuesday (20/1/2009), the Center for Research and Development of Malay Culture (BKPBM) has named 13 outstanding figures/institutions to receive the 2009 MelayuOnline Awards.

Amongst four of the above 13 outstanding figures are women. They are Dra. Hj. Septina Primawati Rusli – the founder of Perempuan Riau Bangkit Foundation, Hj. Aida Zulaikha Nasution, SE., MM., - a member of Regional Representative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia, Dra. Hj. Suryatati A. Manan – the mayor of Tanjungpinang City, Riau Islands Province, and Dr. Prudentia MPSS – the head of Oral Tradition Association (ATL). The four outstanding women are considered playing significant roles in the continuation and development of Malay culture.

Septina Primawati Rusli was entitled for the 2009 MelayuOnline Award in the category of Malay Cultural Publication and Documentation Activist. She is active in documenting and publishing the Malay cultural heritage through book publishing. Just to mention some of her works are books entitled Kumpulang Cerita Rakyat Riau (2007), Perempuang Riau Bicara (2008), Mutiara yang Terjaring (2007), Ragam Kuliner Melayu Riau (2007), Direktori Perempuan Riau (2008), and Khazanah Kerajinan Melayu Riau (2008). For note, the last mentioned book was also entitled for the 2008 Sagang Award. Another outstanding contribution of Ibu Septina, that she is usually called daily, is that she pioneered the establishment of public libraries and reading corners in the province of Riau.

Another great Malay woman, Aida Zulaikha Nasution, was entitled for the 2009 MelayuOnline Award in the category of Malay Woman Activist who Endeavours to Develop the Malay Art and Poem. Amidst her busy as a member of Indonesia‘s Regional Representative Assembly, Ibu Aida could still spare some of her times and thoughts to develop the Malay art, especially in the field of literature. For such active efforts in the literary works, Ibu Aida used to be called “Emaknya” (mother) of Riau Islands‘s artists by Taufik Ikram Jamil, a famous Indonesian litterateur.

The mayor of Tanjungpinang City, MRs. Suryatati A. Manan, was also entitled for the 2009 MelayuOnline Award in the category of Government Policy Maker with Orientation of Developing the Malay Culture. She has successfully set the city of Tanjungpinang as the city of Gurindam Negeri Pantun. Her monumental works is when she had brilliantly raised people‘s awareness of Malay culture through a great event “Revitalisasi Budaya Melayu.” She is also active in empowering not only the local women, but also the Indonesian women generally.

The last Malay heroine of that night was Dr. Pudentia Maria Purenti Sri Suniarti. She was entitled for the 2009 MelayuOnline Award in the category of Malay Oral Tradition Preservation Activist. She was a pioneer in the field of Malay oral tradition research. She is also active in assisting foreign researchers to have in-depth researches in Indonesia. While she is active in the academic world, she is now also noted as a member of Indonesian Eminent Prominent Group (EPG), a government-made group consisting of prominent figures that shoulder responsibilities to maintain harmonious relations with Malaysia.

Malay Culture for Youth

When met after the awarding ceremony, Aida Zulaikha Nasution expressed his sadness to see the fact that the youth generation is now rapidly influenced by modern wave of globalisation. “I like to say that the Malay young generation has now left the Malay tradition. It is urgent for us to preserve the tradition in non-traditional ways. Let‘s pick-up modernity without leaving behind the tradition. Therefore, such an award (2009 MelayuOnline Award) will be much valuable if youth can take part in the preservation and development of Malay culture,” Aida‘s remarks.

Septina Primawati Rusli also shared the same sadness that the lack of government‘s attention in the preservation and development of Malay tradition has caused the youth turn their heads to modern/western civilization. Likewise, there are only few parents who care to rise awareness of loving Malay tradition to their kids. “Consequently, the existence of MelayuOnline.com can hopefully bring the young Malay generation to love ‘the modern Malay‘ in the form of MelayuOnline.com. And I do hope that youth will be much more loving Malay culture than western culture,” she said.

Another award receiver, Suryatati A. Manan was once reciting her poetry entitled “Janda” (widower). Those attending the awarding ceremony were amazed to see the way the Tanjungpinang Mayor read the poetry. The poetry tells about the hard struggle of a widower to reach success in her life.

Amongst the present at the awarding ceremony were Datuk Sri Amanah Dwi Wangsa – the Sultan of Yogyakarta Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, Rusli Zainal – the governor of Riau Province, H. Muhammad Sani – the vice governor of Riau Province, Gusti Suryansyah – the head of the Association of the Rulers of Malay-based Kingdoms in West Kalimantan, Inskandar Mahmud Badaruddin – the ruling Sultan of the Sultanate of Palembang Darussalam, Gusti Arman – the ruler of the Kingdom of Sanggau, students from the entire Yogyakarta, and some foreigners – mostly from Malaysia ans some from Brunei Darussalam.

The ceremony was set as such, and directed by a famous Yogyakartan artist Ong Hari Wahyu. Art performances and wonderful lighting had successfully amazed the attendances. In one session, Mahyudin Al Mudra delivered a cultural speech, where he asserted that the intention to develop Malay cultural civilization begins from an awareness of the history of Malay culture itself stretching out the long periods of time.  Also in the same occasion, another website of BKPBM was launched. The “last son” of BKPBM was named CeritaRakyatNusantara.com

Tasyriq Hifzhillah (brt/24/01-09)

Irfan Nugroho (ter/138/07-09)

Photo: Collection of the Center for Research and Development of Malay Culture (Photographer: Aam Ito Tistomo)

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