VIVAnews - Former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, gave a public lecture at University of Indonesia (UI), Friday, 5 December 2008. The theme of the lecture was “Can Asia Survive from Global Economic Crisis: A Challenge Toward Asia Renaissance.”
The public lecture was held in the Japanese Studies Auditorium, UI campus, Depok, West Java, at 9.00am. The lecture was also attended by the former President Director of TransTV, Ishadi SK.
About 200 college students enthusiastically followed the lecture. They were even seated on the floor as the seats were full. Unfortunately UI's Rector, Gumilar Roesliwa Somantri, was absent.
Anwar Ibrahim admitted that there are some indigenous Indonesian culture claimed by Malaysia.
Anwar criticizes the Malaysian leader for being arrogant in facing such problematic issue. “Years of Malaysian leader arrogance must be stopped,” Anwar stated after giving the general lecture. He himself said that as a little boy he sang “Rasa Sayange”, a song from Ambon, a city in Indonesia, a lot of times. “I heard Rasa Sayange a lot when I was little. I sang it a lot of times myself. But it was after I grew up a bit that I realized that it wasn't Malaysian.” he said.
Not just “Rasa Sayange”, he also admitted to the “Bengawan Solo” song. “The song “Bengawan Solo” is sang a lot, but we all know where Solo is,” he explained. Solo is a city of Indonesia. He mentioned that if or when he becomes Prime Minister, he would act more sternly and wisely. “You just can't be too emotional, dogmatic or nationalistically crazy,” he said.
Another thing he criticized was the punishment of lashing for the Indonesian migrants (TKI) in Malaysia. According to Anwar, the Indonesian migrants’ contribution to Malaysia is by no means little. “I oppose the lashing punishment. When we need them they were celebrated. But when they're no longer needed they're lashed. That's an evil work system,” Anwar stated. According to Anwar, that is one of the things he would put to stop in Malaysia if or when he becomes Prime Minister.
Translated by: Archie Ardian
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