By Marissa Nazeera, Ahmad Rafi Sagoro, and Dinda Aisyah
GOMBAK, 8 November 2022: The annual ‘Indonesian Day’ themed ‘The Cultural Wonders Night of Indonesian Day 2022’ had gracefully wrapped up in a closing ceremony last Friday (4th November 2022) in IIUM Gombak Campus.
Organised by the Indonesian Students Association of IIUM (Persatuan Pelajar Indonesia – PPI-IIUM), the event was aimed to introduce and showcase the richness of Indonesian culture to the IIUM community.
According to the President of PPI-IIUM 21/22, Labib Ahmad Muayyad, the club is more than just an association for Indonesians. It has become a platform to develop intellectualism, cultivate interest and creativity while still preserving bi’ah solehah.
“PPI-IIUM and its members have become everyone’s new family and home when they are miles away from their motherland,” Labib added.
Also present, was Prof. Dr. Muhammad Firdaus, S.p., M.Si (Atase Pendidikan dan Budaya KBRI Kuala Lumpur) who said that culture is an important part embedded in oneself. He recognized the importance of the event as it would help enhance students’ interpersonal communication and indirectly promote their beloved country, Indonesia.
Also sharing the same view, IIUM Rector, Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Dzulkfli Abdul Razak, accentuated that PPI-IIUM has successfully enhanced diversity in the spirit of rahmatan lil alamin that is extended beyond the ummah.
With the hope that this culture will be continued, the Rector reminded the audiences that, “The university will respect and enhance diversity by providing a platform for people to come together in the spirit of rahmatan lil ‘alamin that is extended beyond the ummah.”
“Indonesia and Malaysia will lead the way in trying to project diversity into the community with the hundreds of nationalities in this university,” he emphasized.
In the closing ceremony, the attendees sang the Indonesian national anthem entitled Indonesia Raya to convey their pride of being Indonesians.
Among other guests of the grand closing ceremony of Indonesian Day 2022 were IIUM lecturers; Asst. Prof. Dr. Sonny Zulhuda, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Betania Kartika Muflih, Dr. Rijalul Fikri (Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Malaysia), Prof. Dr. Muhammad Firdaus, S.p., M.Si (Atase Pendidikan dan Budaya KBRI Kuala Lumpur), Kombes Pol Hermanto Kurnia Pria (Atase Riset KBRI Kuala Lumpur), Rijal Alhuda (Koordinator Fungsi, Protokol dan Konsuler KBRI Kuala Lumpur) and representatives from PPI Malaysia, PPI UKM, PPI USIM, PPI MSU and PPI IUKL.
Indonesian Day was held from 29th October 2022 until 4th November 2022, and it had lined-up a few programmes:
- ‘The Door of Wonder’ or the opening ceremony of the event that included raising the Indonesian flag near Mahallah Ali.
- ‘The Wonders Family Day’, where the attendees were mostly Indonesian. They held several Indonesian Independence Day games, namely: tug of war, sack race, cracker eating contest, and inserting a towel into a bottle.
- ‘The Food Wonders’ event was held for 2 days to introduce Indonesian cuisine by selling Indonesian foods and soft drinks ranging from RM3 – RM12.
- ‘Wonders Talent Show’ was a talent search competition for Indonesian students to show their capabilities and talents, and also as a source of entertainment without overlooking the Shari’a.
- ‘The wonders carnival’, was where Indonesian students paraded around the IIUM campus from Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws to Azman Hashim Complex (Riverside) wearing various traditional clothes. It included an angklung performance, Indonesian martial art pencak silat performance, and flash mob by the traditional clothing icons.***