UCLA`s Expert on Malay Literature Takes a Visit to BKPBM

Yogyakarta, MelayuOnline.com - Prof. Hendrik M. J. Maier, an expert on Malay Literature from the University of California Los Angeles, once took a visit to Balai Pinang Lima, the office of the Center for Research and Development of Malay Culture (BKPBM) on Monday (16/2/2009).

Appearing to welcome him were Mahyudin Al Mudra – the head of BKPBM and the director of MelayuOnline.com, Dr. Aris Arif Mundayat – MelayuOnline.com`s consultant, Yuhastina Sinaro – BKPBM`s Public Relations, and several crews of MelayuOnline.com.

He was invited to look around the Balai Pinang Lima building, observing directly the daily activities of those working for MelayuOnline.com, MalayTourism.com, RajaAliHaji.com, and CeritaRakyatNusantara.com. After that, he was met directly by Mahyudin Al Mudra for a small discussion.

Further Mahyudin told him everything about BKPBM. “We (BKPBM) are non-governmental institution that is endeavouring to document, preserve, and introduce the Malay culture globally. Unfortunately, such a cultural work finds it hard to get attention and support from the government and other institution.”

The Professor looked highly appreciate of all the works of BKPBM. He also understands that such a work will get hard to exist amidst the lack of support from either government or non-government institutions.

“Global economic downturn now becomes the biggest problem for funding institutions in the world. No matter how difficult to cope with financial problem, I wish BKPBM would never stop working on these all. All the works BKPBM has done are extravagant. Just keep going and I wish so,” he said.

Further talks between the Professor and BKPBM`s crews drove to initiative of establishing co-operative networks. “We hope that you would like to contribute to us by sending us some papers about the Malay literary studies. That would be so much beneficial for us,” Mahyudin said.

Prof. Maier welcomed the idea happily. “Well, I promise to contribute some of my papers to be published on MelayuOnline.com,” the Professor promised.

At the end of the meeting, Mahyudin gave the Professor two books, each entitled Hikayat Hang Tuah and Redefinisi Melayu (Redefining Malay), which was written by Mahyudin Al Mudra alone.

Des Christy (brt/37/02-09)

Irfan Nugroho (ter/141/07-09)

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