Malaysian King calls for academic cooperation

SEMARANG (JP): Visiting Malaysian King Ja'afar Abdul Rahman expressed hope Saturday that his country and Indonesia could further enhance cooperation in the academic field.

In a speech he delivered after receiving an honorary doctorate degree from the Diponegoro University here Saturday, the king said he was pleased with the existing cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia in the field of education and intellectual development.

He said three decades ago when the Kebangsaan Malaysia University was founded, many higher learning institutes in Indonesia sent personnel to the Malaysian university to help develop it.

The king said the Kebangsaan Malaysia University had made progress and still maintained cooperation with universities in Indonesia.

He said he believed closer cooperation between Malaysian and Indonesian universities could be developed.

Countries in the world have become more open to each other in the face of globalization, he said, adding that people should be sensitive to the world's new system and maintain their footing by developing sciences.

Although the development of higher learning institutes in Indonesia and Malaysia is considered new compared with those in developed nations, the two neighboring countries should be proud of their efforts to develop sciences and apply technology to meet peoples' needs, he said.

He said it was undeniable that progress in modern education had helped the two countries reach rapid economic and social development as sciences were the source of human power in the current era, particularly the upcoming 21st century.

The ceremony to confer the degree was presided over by Rector Muladi and attended by several high-ranking officials, including Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher and Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas.

The king arrived in Jakarta Thursday for a six-day visit.

Earlier Saturday, the king visited the grave of the late First Lady Tien Soeharto at Astana Giri Bangun in Karanganyar, Central Java. He was received by President Soeharto's children -- Sigit Harjojudanto, Hutomo Mandala Putra and Siti Hediati Prabowo.

After the presentation, the king and his wife, Queen Najihah, and his entourage flew to Surabaya where a banquet was held in his honor by East Java Governor Basofi Soedirman.

The king flew to Bali yesterday for a three-day stay. (har/swe)