JAKARTA: In an effort to strengthen relations and promote Malaysian culture to students and lecturers from universities in Indonesia, the Malaysian embassy organised a "Meet the Ambassador" programme on Tuesday night here.
The programme at the embassy's multipurpose hall kicked off after the arrival of the ambassador, Datuk Syed Md Hasrin Tengku Hussin, followed by the singing of the Malaysian and Indonesian national anthems and prayers for peace and mutual prosperity.
Music accompanied the performance of the traditional "Zapin" dance, simultaneously fostering a sense of unity and appreciation for cultural diversity. The event was also attended by Malaysia's Permanent Representative to ASEAN, Datuk Nur Izzah Wong Mee Choo.
Guests watched cooking demonstrations of char kuey teow, roti canai and teh tarik, before enjoying culinary dishes with various flavours and aromas, such as nasi kandar, nasi lemak, cendol and traditional confectionery.
An interactive session with the ambassador conducted by First Secretary (Education) Zulfadhli Hamzah turned into a dialogue on the future of bilateral relations and cooperation.
Topics covered included education, tourism, investment and trade, as well as international issues involving common interests, the role of the young generation and the influence of social media.
Syed Md Hasrin explained the importance of bilateral cooperation, such as exerting pressure in the fight against the anti-palm oil lobby by the European Union (EU), the issues of Islamophobia and Palestine in the context of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) through legal channels and diplomatic efforts.
"This cooperation increases the influence and voice of both countries at the international level, such as the United Nations and the EU," he said during the question-and-answer session.
On the misinformation involving Malaysia and Indonesia on social media, he believes users need to do a critical evaluation of the content to confirm the validity and context of an information before accepting it as truth and sharing it with other users.
"The responsible use of technology can help prevent the spread of rumours and maintain harmony," he said, referring to the two recent incidents in which social media users from Malaysia and Indonesia uploaded content that had sparked controversy among netizens.
Regarding ASEAN's role in ensuring regional stability, Nur Izzah said: "Although there are internal conflicts in each country, ASEAN has succeeded in preventing wars between member countries since its establishment.
"This stability is proof of ASEAN's effective diplomacy and conflict resolution efforts."
Platforms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum and East Asia Summit are also important in facilitating dialogue and cooperation among member countries and external powers, she said, emphasising on "ASEAN Centrality", which ensures that despite differences, productive dialogue can take place.
The programme left a deep impression on the participants who were inspired and optimistic about the prospects of relations between the two countries and proved the importance of diplomacy and cultural acquaintance in building bridges and fostering mutual understanding.
"I am grateful to have participated in this event. The food and cultural performances gave a very different perspective on Malaysia.
"The session with the ambassador was extraordinary, focusing on efforts to maintaining the relationship between Malaysia and Indonesia," said Riska, a Universitas Nasional student.
Dwi Santosa, a student at Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia, said: "I hope this event will be held again because it is informative. As youth and students, we should be given the opportunity to participate in conferences like these.
"The food is good. This is a new experience for me who has never tried Malaysian food and has only watched the popular animated series, Upin & Ipin."
– BERNAMA
TAGS: Jakarta, ambassador, bilateral, relations, Indonesia, Malaysia