MelayuOnline.com Celebrates Its 3rd Milad

Yogyakarta, Melayuonline.com – Ending a series of event in the 3^rd Milad (anniversary) celebration of the “Malay World across the Globe” portal, Melayuonline.com, in Wednesday (20/01) afternoon, the whole staff held a modest ceremony to express gratitude to God after surviving three years in the attempt of preserving Malay civilization.

After accomplishing the workshop “Revisiting Malay Diaspora”, the episodes of celebration was wrapped up with a small gathering and slicing off tumpeng (Javanese traditional dish made of rice served in cone shape). Attending the occasion were Head of Center for Malay Culture Studies and Development (BKPBM) and Chief Redactor of Melayuonline.com, Mahyudin Al Mudra, SH. MM., consultant of the site from Gadjah Mada Unieversity (GMU), Dr. Aris Arif Mundayat, redactors, IT staff, and other parties that have lent their hand in the work so far.

“At the age of three, Melayu Online has delighted its readers. This Melayuonline.com baby has been appealing to the world’s attention and amazement,” exclaimed Bang Mahyudin in an emotional expression.

The milad of Melayuonline.com this time was indeed not as cheerful as last year’s. After all, cheerfulness has nothing to do with the success. The modest celebration was planned with various considerations.

“At this moment Melayu Online has become more well-known than its mother institution, BKPBM. In order to match up, the cheerfulness as in the second milad would be put on in BKPBM’s anniversary celebration on July 4^th,” said Bang Mahyudin. Melayuonline.com, he added, has completely understood the essence of success, thus, a modest celebration would not drop off gratitude over all the blessings God has given to the site.

“That is why I prefer the term ‘milad’ to ‘anniversary’. Milad implies an activity that is more reflective and essential to look back on the course we have passed, while the term anniversary is more about celebration,” explained the holder of title Datuk Cendekia Hikmatullah of Serdang Sultanate.

In his opening speech, Bang Mahyudin reminded the crews about the initial purpose of the portal, i.e. to preserve Malay tradition through non traditional ways, keeping Malay culture and tradition, that has been dispersed as time goes by, conserved in an unabridged documentation. The course to achieve the objective is not at all problem free—in fact, lots of ups and downs have colored its approximately 1000 first days. The dynamics come up as a sign that there is dialectic going on in the body of Melayuonline.com. On the one hand, the site has limited resources and on the other, its dreams are beyond limit. This trade-off brings in stresses, in a positive meaning, that would later lead to effective dialectic, loading the mind and mental of everyone working behind Melayu Online.

“As it explains, Melayu Online is not a mere idealism. It is a choice of life. Any one works here, Melayu Online would give such dynamics to face,” said Bang Mahyudin.

In his reflective words, Bang Mahyudin took his time explaining various problematic worries during the life of Melayu Online.

“Is there anything wrong in the objective of Melayu Online? Is it any good?” said Bang Mahyudin. He further explained that it is the belief in dream that answers such questions. Reflecting the past could help whip up the people’s enthusiasm that they know that Melayuonline.com has born fruits. Albeit there is no thorough answer about its escalation, three years of age is a great achievment.

“There is nothing wrong with our dreams and the workshop in the last couple of days is one of the proofs,” explained Mahyudin.

The reflection over the gap between dreams and concretitations was the essence of yesterday’s Milad. For that reason, as the chief redactor and founder, Bang Mahyudin told the staff to keep their feet on the ground in taking the three year journey of Melayu Online. “We should cover the things we’re still bad at. And don’t be satisfied with this achievement,” said the Chief, who was born in Tembilahan, Indragiri Hilir, Riau.

Another boost of spirit was given by the consultant of Melayuonline.com, Dr. Aris Arif Mundayat. In his speech, the Director of the Center for South East Asian Social Studies (PSSAT) GMU gingered up all the staff by explaining to them the importance of solidarity and vitality of the young in dealing with dialectic.

“In the hands of young people as you are, Melayuonline.com could reach this level,” revealed the youthful doctor who teaches in Anthropolgy Department, Faculty of Cultural Science, GMU. And not less important than that, he said further, is the orientation on solution that needs to be develeoped constantly. Such orientation would increase teamwork effectiveness of Melayuonline.com staff.

Following Dr. Aris’s speech was prayer by the staff of Melayuonline.com, led by Agus Nadjib, S.Ag. Before beginning, Agus, who is the man in charge of BKPBM’s library, reminded the people, “We pray because we have hopes. And the closer our hopes get, the more we should pray to God.”

To close the occassion, accompanied by Dr. Aris, Bang Mahyudin sliced off the tumpeng and blew candles. The first slice was given to Dr. Aris Arif Mundayat, who has been helping Melayuonline.com selflessly and sincerely. Next, while congratulating Ceritarakyatnusantara.com and Maharatu Tour Agent, both have their birthday in the same date with Melayu Online’s, the second and third slices were given to Samsuni, S. Th. I, M.A., Chief Redactor of the site, and Yuhastina Sinaro, S. Par., manager of the tour agent, respectively. The last slices were handed to Elizabeth Murni, the youngest redactor, and Reza Daffi, S. S. the newest redactor of Melayuonline.com.

(Adi Tri Pramono/brt-09/21-01-10)

Translated by Reza Daffi (terj/10/01/10)  

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