YOGYAKARTA: Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim has proposed an exchange programme among Malaysian and Indonesian journalists, art practitioners and students in an effort to enhance people-to-people ties between the two countries.
He said the goodwill programme could kick-off in October and be held three times a year while the progress would be reported to the government and non-governmental organisations of both countries.
The programme could be cemented through the Malaysian-based Yayasan Ikatan Rakyat Malaysia Indonesia (Yirmi) and Ikatan Setiakawan Wartawan Malaysia Indonesia (Iswami) which was set up in both countries.
He said the programme could start with journalists and writers followed by other groups.
“In this context, journalists and writers from Jakarta or Yogyakarta will be invited to Kuala Lumpur to experience the way of life in villages in Malaysia.
“After that, another group from Malaysia will come to Jakarta and stay with the Bugis community to understand the rich cultural and religious history through osmosis,” he said after meeting over 70 local media practitioners at Hyatt Regency here Wednesday.
Rais said the bond of friendship between Malaysia and Indonesia could become stronger through people-to-people ties as they spoke one language and shared similar culture.
“I would like to propose that Javanese, Minangs and other ethnic groups from Indonesia to stay among their communities in Malaysia so that they can learn each other cultural evolution,” he said.
He said the people of Javanese, Minang, Bugis, Sundanese, Acehnese and Mandailing descents migrated to the Malay Peninsula since 1920s and brought along their culture from the villages they originated from in Indonesia.
“God willing, we will make this bridge stronger in spurring a greater era for the communities in both countries,” he said.
Rais was here to attend the Fifth ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Culture Ministers’ meeting which ended Wednesday. –Bernama