BKPBM and Wisma Bahasa Sign Memorandum of Understanding

Yogyakarta, MelayuOnline.com- Balai Kajian dan Pengembangan Budaya Melayu-BKPBM (the Center for Research and Development of Malay Culture), now embraces Wisma Bahasa (WB) – an institution concerning on Indonesian language course for foreigners – to introduce Malay culture and language to the broader public in the world.

Both institutions agreed to establish co-operative networks by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday (6/10/2008) at Balai Pinang Lima building.

“BKPBM and WB possess visions that are almost the same each other, one of them is to preserve and develop nation‘s culture,” Mahyudin Al Mudra – the Head of BKPM – remarked. It is hoped, therefore, that co-operation would be beneficial for both institutions.

Responding Mahyudin‘s remark, Agus Soehardjono SS., MM. – the Director of WB – wished the cooperation can be a means of introducing Malay culture and language to foreigners studying in the WB.

Further he said that mostly WB‘s students are foreigners who are interested greatly in studying both Indonesia‘s cultures and languages. “They are not travellers; but, most of them are college students, researchers, diplomats, and foreign institutions‘ workers, who take deep interest in Indonesia‘s cultural and language diversities.

The necessity to establish co-operative networks with BKPM came from the assessment that learning certain language will be useless without studying its culture as well.

 “We (WB –red) wish BKPBM would like to participate actively in all our events someday,” Soehardjono said. In addition, the MoU likewise says that BKPBM will be a destination for field trip of WB‘s students.

Reuniting scattered Malay cultures

Following the MoU signing was a discussion on “Salaman dalam perspektif antropologis” (handshaking viewed from anthropological perspective). Came as keynote speaker was a MelayuOnline.com‘s consultant and director of Southeast Asian Social Studies of Gadjah Mada University, Dr. Aris Arif Mundayat.

That occasion often discussed a distinguishing phenomenon happening solely in Indonesia that is named as mudik (home coming to one‘s native land). Mudik and Idul Fitri, he said, are the means of reuniting and strengthening ties of kinship amongst the Indonesian Muslims. Gathering with family members, relatives, and erstwhile friends can be social capital for uniting kinship ties after being separated for a year.

“That is just the same as what Mahyudin‘s does with MelayuOnline.com, MalayTourism.com, RajaAliHaji.com, and CeritaRakyatNusantara.com,” Mundayat added. Mahyudin, along with BKPBM has been ceaselessly attempting to unite scattered Malay cultures on those cyber portals. Mundayat closed his speech by a wish that such an endeavour could be social capital to establish Malay civilization in the future.

Halal bihalal ceremony, handshaking each other for asking forgiveness, ended the MoU signing. One by one, crews of MelayuOnline.com and Adicita publisher apologized to each other for all sins and faults.

(Des Christy/brt/07/10-08)
(Irfan Nugroho/ter/61/10-08)

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