Nation told to use proper Bahasa Indonesia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin
\nlaunched on Tuesday the annual Bulan Bahasa (Indonesian Language
\nMonth) campaign for a month, renewing calls on all citizens,
\nespecially influential public figures, to speak and write proper
\nBahasa Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"It's high time leaders set a good example for the people.<\/p>\n
"Politicians, government officials, members of the security
\nforces as well as professionals have to be able to communicate
\ntheir ideas -- orally and in writing -- in proper Indonesian,"
\nYahya said on the sidelines of the opening of the campaign.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Linguists Association (HPBI) in its congress
\nwhich ended on Saturday had issued a recommendation that a decent
\nability in speaking and writing Indonesian should be required of
\npeople pursuing careers in the administration, the Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI)\/Police, private sectors and legislative and
\njudicial institutions.<\/p>\n
"Bahasa Indonesia is the only real thing that binds us
\ntogether as a nation, especially in this time of crisis," Yahya
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
"In the past regime people had no choice but to look up to
\ndominant rulers who used Bahasa Indonesia according to their
\ninterests. Now, it is time to bring back the correct language
\nwith no 'euphemisms' in it," Indonesian Language Center Director
\nHasan Alwi said in the opening speech on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
"In the past, the authorities were the ones who freely
\n'altered' the language according to their own taste. Euphemism
\nbecame rampant and we even lost the real meaning of some words,"
\nHasan said.<\/p>\n
Former president Soeharto is known as the great user of
\neuphemism, noted poet Taufik Ismail said.<\/p>\n
"He used to say 'resettlement' instead of 'eviction', 'to take
\nsomeone into protection' rather than 'arrest' and so many
\nothers," Taufik said.<\/p>\n
Taufik further reiterated the importance for students to love
\nreading local literary works.<\/p>\n
"Teachers must be innovative when teaching students because
\nsensitivity toward culture, language and literature will mold a
\nbetter person, a non-violent one," Taufik said.<\/p>\n
Hasan further said that his office was now preparing materials
\nto help expatriates master the Indonesian language.<\/p>\n
"We're setting up a kind of TOEFL for Bahasa Indonesia. It
\nwould probably be ready next year. This is part of our effort to
\nface the globalization era.<\/p>\n
"To protect our manpower when AFTA becomes effective in 2003,
\nwe have to set certain regulations and requirements for foreign
\nworkers entering the country. The use of Bahasa (by expatriates)
\nis a matter of practicality and propriety," Hasan said.<\/p>\n
Arrangements for the tests are being coordinated with the
\nrelated ministries such as Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry
\nof Tourism and Culture and Ministry of Manpower, he added.<\/p>\n
The October event was also marked by the launching of the
\nthird edition of the "Bahasa Indonesia Dictionary", complete with
\nhundreds of new words and appendixes.<\/p>\n
The dictionaries will be sold at Rp 300,000 (US$35.2) each.<\/p>\n
The opening event was marked by a loud but eloquent drama
\nadopted from Taufik's famous poetry Belajar Mengarang (Learn to
\nwrite compositions) staged by students of the Literature Faculty
\nof the University of Indonesia (UI).<\/p>\n
Three writers were also given special awards, namely Wisran
\nHadi of the Andalas University in West Sumatra for a drama titled
\nEmpat Sandiwara Orang Melayu (Four Malay plays); S.N. Ratmana, a
\nphysics teacher from Tegal in Central Java, for his novel Asap
\nItu Masih Mengepul (The smoke is still billowing); and a teacher
\nfrom the Cipasung Islamic Boarding School in West Java who is
\nalso an alumnus of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) Acep
\nZamzam Noor for his collection of poetries titled Di Luar Kota
\n(Out of town).<\/p>\n
The month's events will include writing and story telling
\ncompetitions; drama and theatrical plays; and exhibitions, which
\nwill be held in several campuses such as at the Literature
\nFaculty of UI, Campus A Trisakti University in West Jakarta,
\nPerbanas University in Central Jakarta and National University in
\nSouth Jakarta. (edt)<\/p>",
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