Cultural Diplomacy In Sarawak Boosts Malaysia-indonesia Ties

By Rozlin Rusharmeen Rosmin

KUCHING, Aug 9 (Bernama) -- The tunes of the bamboo angklung were played simultaneously by about 30 members of the Indonesian Cultural Ambassadors' group who accompanied the cruise along the Sarawak River recently, becoming a symbol of the close friendship between Malaysia and Indonesia through cultural diplomacy, coinciding with the celebration of the independence month of both countries.

The performance of the traditional musical instrument of the Sundanese community in West Java was part of the essence of the three-day cultural visit to the city starting on August 5 in conjunction with the 81st anniversary of Indonesia's independence, which also opened up wider space for cultural exchange and strengthened relations between the people.

The general chairperson of Cahaya Ladara Nusantara, Triana Wulandari said the visit, in collaboration with the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia, aimed to introduce Indonesian cultural heritage to the people in Sarawak through angklung performances, traditional dances and batik.

“We are holding a cultural arts goodwill event to introduce and promote Indonesian cultural arts, especially angklung, dance, batik and kebaya to the community in Sarawak in conjunction with the celebration of the Republic of Indonesia’s Independence Day.

“Events like this can be a catalyst for stronger cultural ties between Sarawak and Indonesia, thus increasing people-to-people interactions through various artistic activities,” she told Bernama.

Triana, 64, who has been involved in the field of culture and history in Indonesia for more than three decades, said art is not just a performance on stage, but rather a universal language that can bring people from different backgrounds closer together.

She said the visit also opened up space for wider cultural cooperation when the group received an invitation from the state government to return to perform at a cultural event in Kuching around September or October.

Meanwhile, Saung Akar Budaya leader Siti Maryuni Soewardan, who began studying cultural arts since she was in secondary school, hoped the visit would be the starting point for a cultural exchange programme between Indonesia and Sarawak.

According to her, cross-cultural programmes should not be limited to artistic performances such as angklung, gamelan or traditional dances, but can be expanded to sharing culinary heritage, customs and cultural understanding so that the people of both countries can get to know each other better.

“Angklung itself is not just a traditional musical instrument, but rather a medium that brings together various levels of society from children to the elderly, thus contributing to the physical, mental, social and intellectual well-being of the participants,” she said.

Siti Maryuni said the traditional musical instrument, which was recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, was among the cultural identities of Indonesia that continued to be promoted internationally.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Tourism Board chief executive officer Dr Sharzede Salleh Askor said the close relationship between Sarawak and Indonesia made cultural exchange an important platform to increase understanding, especially as Malaysia and Indonesia celebrated their respective independence months.

“We need to continue to understand each other because close ties through culture will help create understanding and peace,” she said.

She hoped that more cultural cooperation programmes between Sarawak and Indonesia could be implemented in the future, thus strengthening the cultural tourism sector and related community relations.

-- BERNAMA