BKPBM Boosts Academic Ties with PSSAT-UGM

Yogyakarta, MelayuOnline.com– Responding to the invitation of Pusat Studi Sosial Asia Tenggara-PSSAT (The Centre for Southeast Asian Social Studies) of Gadjah Mada University Yogyakarta, Balai Kajian dan Pengembangan Budaya Melaui-BKPBM (Center for Research and Development of Malay Culture) paid a visit to the headquarter of the PSSAT, Monday (10/03/2008). The entourage of BKPBM, six people, was headed by the Director of BKPBM and MelayuOnline.com, Mahyudin Al Mudra, S.H., M.M.

The meeting, lasted for one and a half hour (13.00-14.30 p.m), discussed the possibilities of cooperation between the two parties who share the same vision and mission. The talks focused on developing research agenda and Malay studies through cultural approach. Besides, the meager proportion of attention paid by Indonesian local scientists to observe the Malay –culture, history, literature- boosted both parties to have codified and concrete activities.

The meeting was preceded by the opening remark delivered by the Director of PSSAT Dr. Aris Arif Mundayat. In the occasion, Aris Mundayat gave brief presentation about the activities of PSSAT that has established seven years ago. He also introduced the PSSAT‘s two staff experts, Dr. Nicolaas Warouw (Anthropologist, and Deputy of Cooperation and Development), and Budi Irwanto, M.A. (Media and Film Specialist, and Deputy of Information and Media). 

Aris‘s counterpart, Mahyudin Al Mudra, also made a short presentation on the BKPBM‘s activities and introduced the entourage. To develop the mission envisioned by the BKPBM and MelayuOnline.com, Mahyudin called for close cooperation between the two Centers in four main sectors: (1) data and information exchange, (2) joint research, (3) Thai language translator for MelayuOnline.com and (4) funding access. Those points are the main next agenda for the cooperation.

The PSSAT‘s respond was positive as Aris offered the quite similar form of cooperation to the BKPBM in (1) building national and international network, (2) joint research, (3) documentation and preservation of Malay culture – past and contemporary- using audio visual tools (such as documentary films on cultural activities or biography of figure), and (4) discussion series. “ It will be better for us (PSSAT –UGM and BKPBM, red) to visit some Universities having cooperation with PSSAT such as Walailak University in South Thailand, University of Colombo in Sri Lanka, and South East Asia Studies in one of Vietnam Univiersities, to promote the activities of MelayuOnline.com and to seek the possibilities of cooperation”, said Aris.

At the end, both parties agreed to work toward the talks. One of which was signing the Memorandum of Understanding between PSSAt-UGM and BKPBM. Aris also stated the PSSAT, in real soon, would reciprocate the visit. The meeting was closed by presenting the gift, some books published by BKPBM, to Aris, as the first signal of cooperation between the two Centers.

(HQ/ter/96/03-08)

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