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