BKPBM`s Sixth Anniversary: Malay Hybrid in One Single Framework

Yogyakarta, MelayuOnline.com - Saturday (04/7/2009), Balai Kajian dan Pengembangan Budaya Melayu-BKPBM (Center for Research and Development of Malay Culture) celebrated its sixth anniversary in the meeting hall of Balai Pinang Lima – BKPBM`s office.

In his opening remark, Mahyudin Al Mudra, the head of BKPBM and MelayuOnline.com`s director, told many things about his struggle to establish BKPBM as well as the obstacles he found during the six years BKPBM has been standing as today. For that reasons, he also delivered his deeply gratitude to all people who have helped him so far.

“It`s been six years BKPBM has endeavoured to preserve and develop the Malay heritage scattered throughout the Malay Archipelago. Those works then get introduced to the world through either offline or online media upon God`s bless and of course, your helps,” Mahyudin said.

“During that length of time, BKPBM`s responsibilities get heavier from day by day, following the fast growth and dissemination of the Malay itself into multifarious spheres,” he added.

To cover that multifarious Malay, Mahyudin said further, BKPBM launched a book entitled Merajuk Mozaik Dunia Melayu: Dari Raja Ali Haji hingga MelayuOnline.com (Uniting the Malay Heritage: From Raja Ali Haji to MelayuOnline.com) prior to the celebration of BKPBM`s sixth anniversary.

Coming at the book`s soft launching were Drs. Dafri Agus Salim – a lecturer at the Social and Political Sciences of Gadjah Mada University; Ir. Said Fadillah, Msi. – a lecturer at the University of Pembangunan National/the head of Riau Islands Community; Drs. Mustari, M. Hum – a lecturer at State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga, Yogyakarta, and Ong Hari Wahyu – an outstanding Yogyakartan artist.

Iswan M. Isa, a Malay culture observer from West Kalimantan, hosted the book`s soft launching; while Dr. Aris Arif Mundayat, the director of the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies of Gadjah Mada University, as the keynote speaker.

In his remarks, Mundayat said that the book is aimed to covering the Malay hybrid in one single framework. The Malay hybrid is inexorable fact that Malay is no longer about Islam, settle in certain regions, and serve particular adats and customs. Consequently, any effort to define the Malay concept might only lead to deceiving the real nature of Malay, that of multifarious.

“This is a must because “Malay” is basically multifarious. Malay is not only about Islam, settle in certain regions, and serve particular adat and customs. Malay, in the past, embraced Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity altogether; but why we, in the present, claim that Malay is only about Islam? We ought not to cut the Malay`s chain of history, indeed,” Mundayat`s remarks.

Many attending the event appeared to agree with Mundayat`s thoughts. Said Fadilah was inline with Mundayat. He said, “It is useless to seek the “original” identity of Malay as any effort to define the Malay identity might only threaten the unity, and perhaps, lead the Malays to internal conflict.”

The book was written by BKPBM`s crews and those who concern with the Malay cultural studies. This is part of BKPBM`s programme to preserve and immortalize the Malay cultural heritage and introduce them to the world through offline medium, that of book. Likewise, BKPBM is the umbrella organization for MelayuOnline.com, MalayTourism.com, RajaAliHaji.com, and CeritaRakyatNusantara.com, which all are dedicated to reviving the glory of Malay civilization.

At the end on the event, some of the attendances were bestowed with the book, which is now only published in limited edition, by BKPBM. Those who received that book were Drs. Dafri Agus Salim MA., Ir. Said Fadilah, Msi., Drs. Mustari, M.Hum, Bustanul Arifin, Drs. Audith M Turmudhi, MM., Ong Hari Wahyu, and Iswan M. Isa.

The celebration of BKPBM`s sixth anniversary ended with the tumpeng (ceremonial dish of yellow rice served in a cone shape) cutting by Mahyudin Al Mudra.

Elisabeth Murni (brt/03/07-09)

Irfan Nugroho (ter/129/07-09)

Photographer: Aam Ito Tistomo for the Center for Research and Development of Malay Culture

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