THE Indonesian DELEGATION on the Jalur Rempah Cultural Goodwill cruise mission stopped in Melaka City, Malaysia, on June 30-July 3, 2024. Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rauf Yusoh’s cruise visit by the Indonesian delegation means a lot in the history of the relationship between the two countries.
He said he would hold a dialogue with President-elect Prabowo Subianto to strengthen relations with Malaysia through the Spice Route cultural program. The Melaka government has conducted several studies related to strengthening Malaysia-Indonesia relations. “I will convey this if there is an opportunity for us to be invited and make a presentation to Mr. Prabowo,” he said on the sidelines of a dinner with the delegation of the Indonesian Embassy and the Spice Route Cultural Goodwill group at Casa del Rio, Melaka, Monday, July 1, 2024.
Abdul Rauf said he had talked with Prabowo regarding a number of ideas to strengthen relations between Indonesia and Malaysia. Moreover, Prabowo had also visited Malaysia several times, including Melaka. “I conveyed the idea of Malaysia-Indonesia relations not only spiritual but also physical, including the idea of building a Melaka-Dumai bridge. In principle, he seemed happy if this became a reality,” said Abdul Rauf.
The history and cultural connections of the Spice Route, according to Abdul Rauf, are an important part of the development of Malaysian and Indonesian society. Moreover, the relationship between the two countries has long existed since the era of the Malay Sultanate of Melaka and the Majapahit Kingdom. “We need to keep this relationship alive so that history can be passed down to future generations,” he said.
The Spice Route Cultural Goodwill Mission is part of the National Priority Program run by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology since 2020. Director of Cultural Development and Utilization, Irini Dewi Wanti said that cooperation with Malaysia related to the Spice Route program will continue to be improved. “We can do it through bilateral discussions, conducting joint projects involving experts from both countries, and exchanging students and youth,” said Irini.
The cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia, according to Irini, is crucial in the joint promotion efforts of all destinations related to the Spice Route. “This will enrich our shared narrative to continue the submission of the Spice Route as a world heritage to UNESCO,” she said.
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The Indonesian delegation that joined the Spice Route Cultural Goodwill mission arrived in Melaka, Malaysia, on Sunday, June 30, 2024. Boarding the three-sail ship of the Indonesian Navy, KRI Dewaruci, the members of the cultural mission contingent, also known as Laskar Rempah, anchored at Tanjung Bruas pier, Melaka, and were greeted by a parade of the Royal Malaysian Navy’s military marching band and Melaka art dances.
This cultural mission is the first international voyage of the Spice Route Cultural Goodwill with the theme of the Spice Route and Malay Cultural Connectivity. This mission is very important in tracing the historical traces of the Spice Route in the Archipelago and the cultural aspects that emerged along the shipping routes in Southeast Asia. This is one of the keys to submitting the Spice Route as a shared world heritage to UNESCO.
In a release broadcasted by the Ministry of Education and Culture-Research and Technology in Jakarta on Monday, Director General of Culture Hilmar Farid said that Melaka was the first point of MBJR’s visit abroad and aimed to retrace the traces of shared cultural heritage civilizations. “The Spice Route Cultural Goodwill does not stop this year. We hope to continue to explore various aspects of our culture. Hopefully at some point the nomination of this spice route to UNESCO will be made,” said Hilmar.
This year’s MBJR was attended by 50 participants in each sailing route. As many as 25 of the participants known as Laskar Rempah were selected through an open selection from the Ministry of Education and Culture-Research and Technology. (Ant/Z-2)
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