Sultan B Najamudin Receives Honorary Doctorate from KMOU
The sea is a unifier of civilisations. The sea is not merely a geographical space, but a bridge connecting nations through collaboration, innovation, and sustainability.
Bengkulu (ANTARA) - Chairman of the Regional Representative Council of the Republic of Indonesia (DPD RI) Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin has officially received the honorary Doctor of Letters (Dr. HC) from Korea Maritime and Ocean University.
“The sea is a unifier of civilisations. The sea is not merely a geographical space, but a bridge connecting nations through collaboration, innovation, and sustainability,” said Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin via an email received in Bengkulu on Wednesday.
In his scientific oration at the academic ceremony held at the KMOU campus in Busan, South Korea, on Wednesday (1/4/2026), Sultan emphasised that the sea plays a strategic role as a connector of civilisations and the foundation for future global cooperation.
The author of the book Green Democracy also highlighted the importance of international cooperation that is not only oriented towards economic growth but also considers environmental sustainability and social justice, in line with the vision of green economy and blue economy.
As Chairman of the DPD RI, Sultan is known for consistently advocating the strengthening of regional roles in national development. He actively promotes the Archipelagic Regions Bill as a policy foundation that favours archipelagic areas and coastal communities.
After receiving the degree, Sultan expressed his appreciation and gratitude to Korea Maritime and Ocean University as an academic institution that has made significant contributions to promoting research and development of marine economic resource potential for the Republic of Korea and the world.
“I extend my thanks to the President of KMOU and the entire academic community for this honorary degree. This is not merely a personal accolade, but recognition of the archipelagic communities in Indonesia,” he said.
Sultan stated that the degree represents a moral responsibility that must be upheld. He added that the international community will await Indonesia’s commitments.
“Particularly from the DPD RI as a legislative body in formulating policies related to archipelagic and maritime regions to build global cooperation in inclusive and sustainable regional development,” he said.
Sultan also hopes that this momentum can strengthen bilateral relations between Indonesia and South Korea, particularly in the development of the maritime sector, archipelagic regions, and coastal communities.
He views the synergy between Korea’s maritime technological excellence and Indonesia’s resource potential as a strategic opportunity to drive economic growth while preserving environmental sustainability, which must be optimally utilised.
Sultan becomes the second Indonesian figure after Megawati Soekarnoputri to receive an honorary doctorate from the university. The conferment was led by the President of KMOU, Prof. Dr. Ryoo Dong-Keun, with promoter Prof. Dr. Kim Soo-il from Busan University of Foreign Studies, and attended by the senate and academic community of the campus.
During the ceremony, Sultan was accompanied by his wife, two DPD RI leaders, several DPD RI members, and representatives from the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Seoul.
According to Prof. Kim, the award was given for Sultan’s consistency in strengthening Indonesian parliamentary diplomacy, particularly in advocating for the development of archipelagic regions and coastal communities, as well as his role in introducing Indonesia’s regional potential through international diplomacy.