Mahathir Mohamad about big Chinese Characters in Kuala Lumpur

By MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 

1. Weekends I drive around Kuala Lumpur.

2. Sometime I drop in the shopping complexes.

3. KL's shopping complexes are great.

4. The new ones are fantastic.

5. They are bigger and better than the shopping complexes in London or Tokyo.

6. The other day I dropped in one of the new ones.

7. Wow. It is great.

8. But suddenly I felt I was in China.

9. Then I realised why.

10. All the signboards are in Chinese with English translations.

11. Nothing in Malay. Not at all.

12. So is this Malaysia.

13. Or have we become a part of China.

14. English I can understand why.

15. Even in Japan signboards have English translations.

16. But big Chinese characters.

17. I was told that some Chinese TV refer to Malaysia as Little China.

18. Why?

19. Because among the Southeast Asian countries Malaysia displays the Chinese characters all over; large and prominent.

20. Must be because we have so many Chinese visitors.

21. But translation in small characters yes.

22. But our national language is Malay.

Yuliati Umrah: Dari Aktivis Anak Jalanan hingga Menjadi Perangkai Bunga

Yuliati Umrah, ketua Yayasan Alit Indonesia, dikenal luas atas pengabdiannya dalam pemberdayaan anak jalanan yang sering disebut arek lintang. Dedikasinya dalam membantu anak-anak jalanan di Surabaya telah membuatnya menjadi sosok yang dihormati di kalangan aktivis sosial. 

Namun, di balik perannya sebagai aktivis, Yuliati juga memiliki sisi lain yang jarang diketahui publik: dia adalah seorang floris, perangkai bunga, dan pembudidaya bunga yang berbakat.

Lulusan FISIP Universitas Airlangga (Unair) itu telah lama menekuni dunia bunga. Keahliannya dalam merangkai bunga membawanya ke berbagai kota di Indonesia untuk mengisi pelatihan seni merangkai bunga. Bagi Yuliati, bunga bukan hanya sekadar hobi, tetapi juga menjadi ladang pengembangan diri, kewirausahaan, dan budaya.

"Saya bersyukur impian saya sejak kelas 4 SD akhirnya terwujud. Kini saya memiliki kebun bunga, menjual bunga di toko, dan mengajarkan seni merangkai bunga. Proses ini sangat menyenangkan dan juga mengasah kemampuan saya dalam bidang pertanian dan kewirausahaan," ujar Yuliati.

Yuliati menceritakan pengalaman menarik saat menyelenggarakan workshop merangkai bunga yang diikuti oleh berbagai peserta. Foto-foto karya mereka yang diunggah di media sosial mendapat respons positif dari publik.

"Beberapa di antaranya langsung mendapatkan pesanan bunga. Bahkan, ada lima peserta yang membuka toko bunga di Surabaya Utara, Sidoarjo, Malang, dan Jakarta," paparnya.

Selain itu, Yuliati dipercaya untuk mendekorasi panggung Upacara Penyucian Candi Prambanan pada 10 November 2024. Upacara ini menjadi salah satu momen sakral dalam pemeliharaan dan pelestarian Candi Prambanan yang telah diakui sebagai candi terindah di dunia.

 Untuk acara tersebut, total biaya dekorasi bunga mencapai  Rp 20 juta. Yuliati menggunakan berbagai jenis bunga. Di antaranya, lily marlon dan bacardi, serta lily yelloween yang memberikan kesan elegan.

 Tak ketinggalan, aster putih dan kuning, serta pikok putih, ruskus dan xanado. Rosida, sedap malam, serta pohon pucuk merah juga dimasukkan dalam rangkaian, menciptakan suasana yang lebih mistis dan sakral.

 Krisan yang ditanam dalam pot menjadi elemen tambahan yang mempercantik tampilan, sementara gabah kering dan gumitir menambah elemen tradisional yang kaya makna.

"Tuhan berkati karya-karya kami, untuk memuji-Mu dan mengirimkan keindahan itu kepada seluruh alam semesta. Semoga karya ini menjadi doa terbaik bagi leluhur kami yang telah membuat negeri ini menjadi indah," kata Yuliati penuh syukur.

Yuliati juga berharap suatu saat bisa mendekorasi Candi Borobudur setelah sukses mendekorasi Candi Prambanan. 

Father Nicholas Strawn, SVD: A Life Devoted to Lembata’s People

Father Nicholas Strawn, SVD, a missionary from the Society of the Divine Word, has spent over six decades serving the people of Lembata, Indonesia.

 Born on September 24, 1934, in Iowa, USA, Father Strawn celebrated his 90th birthday this year. His unwavering dedication and love for the people of Lembata have become his defining legacy, as he chose to remain in the region rather than return to his homeland.

During a recent visit to Bukit Hospital in Lewoleba on September 13, 2024, where Father Strawn is bedridden due to age and illness, locals reflected on his profound impact.

 Laurentius Lewo, a native of Lembata, shared his heartfelt memories of meeting Father Strawn for the first time when he was just five years old.

"When you first arrived at St. Paul's Station in Atawolo, I was a young child," Laurentius said. "We affectionately called you 'Tuan Nico.' Your kindness and warmth made all of us children feel close to you."

Laurentius fondly recalled how Father Strawn regularly visited schools during his pastoral missions, teaching religious lessons and engaging with students. "You were like a shepherd to your flock," he added.

Father Strawn's commitment extended to the Parish of Lerek, where he served with unwavering enthusiasm and humility. Despite the physical challenges of his advanced age, he remains in Lembata, embracing the community that has become his family.

For the people of Lembata, Father Strawn's decision to stay is a testament to his deep love and devotion. Laurentius expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you, our shepherd, for choosing to be with us. May you find joy on your 90th birthday, and may God bless you always."

As Father Strawn rests in Lewoleba, his story continues to inspire the island's residents, a living example of faith, service, and love.

Gereja Tua di Lembata Tahun 1950-an

Oleh Peter A. Rohi

Wartawan Sinar Harapan

Pada tahun 1970-an, beberapa kali menyeberangi Pulau Lembata, saya sangat terkesan dengan kerukunan di sana dan keramahan penduduk di kampung-kampung yang saya lalui.

 Dari Loang ke Lewoleba, lalu dari Lewoleba memotong ke tengah pulau menuju Waiteba. Menyusuri arah barat dengan berjalan kaki, menginap di rumah penduduk sepanjang perjalanan.

Saya ingin menyampaikan Salam Natal kepada mereka yang dengan senang hati mengulurkan tangan membantu saya setiap kali saya melanglang ke pulau indah itu. Terutama saat meliput detik-detik terakhir Kampung Waiteba sebelum akhirnya runtuh atau tenggelam ke dasar laut.

Inilah foto tahun 1950 dari sebuah gereja di Lewoleba, Pulau Lembata, yang saat itu masih dikenal sebagai Pulau Lomblen.

Pada tahun 1979, ada sebuah kota kecamatan bernama Waiteba di selatan Pulau Lembata yang runtuh ke dasar laut. Sebelumnya, gempa terus-menerus terjadi akibat aktivitas Gunung Hobalt, sebuah gunung berapi di bawah laut.

 Ketika meletus beberapa bulan kemudian, kota tersebut tenggelam ke dasar laut, menelan ratusan jiwa.

Peristiwa itu sangat dahsyat. Namun, karena pada saat itu media di Indonesia masih terbatas dan televisi hanya satu, kejadian ini tidak banyak terekspos. 

Meski begitu, laporan saya di Harian Sinar Harapan dijadikan bahan penelitian ilmiah oleh Universitas Colorado. Saya adalah satu-satunya wartawan yang melakukan peliputan beberapa saat sebelum kota itu tenggelam.

Remembering the 1979 Eruption of Mount Hobalt and the Tsunami in Lembata: Nearly a Thousand Lives Lost

Mount Hobalt, an active underwater volcano located in the Atadei District, southern Lembata Island in East Nusa Tenggara, is known for its dangerous eruptions. Its eruption in 1979, accompanied by a tsunami, claimed the lives of nearly a thousand people and submerged coastal villages.

The Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) records that Mount Hobalt erupted in 1976, 1979, 1983, and 2013, with the most devastating eruption occurring on July 21, 1979. 

Before the disaster, Peter Rohi, a reporter for Sinar Harapan, had warned in his article that Waiteba, the capital of Atadei, could be submerged if Mount Hobalt erupted.

Peter had witnessed numerous fish, including sharks, washed up on the shores, likely killed by the heat from the volcano. He warned the authorities about the impending eruption, but his caution was dismissed. 

Local government officials even told the residents to ignore the journalist's concerns. "Don't worry, just continue your work as usual. It's just a journalist's story," Peter recalled them saying.

Tragically, just days later, Mount Hobalt erupted, triggering a tsunami that reached up to 50 meters in height, sweeping along the coastline. Waiteba was swallowed by the sea.

 The East Nusa Tenggara provincial government recorded 539 fatalities, 364 missing persons, and 470 injured. A total of 903 lives were lost.

Peter's warning had come from a source in East Flores who had noticed signs of an eruption, coupled with information from a relative working at PVMBG in Bandung. Without hesitation, Peter chartered a boat from Larantuka to Lembata. 

Upon arrival, he traveled on foot to Lewoleba, the capital of Lembata, where he stayed the night. The next day, accompanied by a local, he continued his journey to Waiteba, traversing difficult terrain, and reached the village at midnight.

 While photographing Waiteba from a hilltop the following day, a sudden earthquake struck, causing the ground to collapse beneath him.

"I was thrown among the rocks but managed to survive. My goal was ahead—there was a major story, lives to be saved," Peter recalled.

Jonathan Lassa, from the Institute of NTT Studies, described how the tsunami inundated nearly the entire bay area, stretching 12 kilometers long and 500-600 meters wide. Debris lodged in lontar palm trees reached a height of about seven meters.

The event involved three tsunami waves, followed by landslides. After the eruption, the tip of Mount Hobalt vanished beneath the sea, and it remains an underwater volcano to this day.

Javanese Catholic Tradition Lives On in Sweet Friday Prayer Vigil at Puhsarang

Thousands of Catholic faithful from 46 parishes in the Diocese of Surabaya gathered last night for a prayer vigil Mass at the Lourdes Grotto in Puhsarang, Kediri, honoring the Javanese tradition of "Jumat Legi" or Sweet Friday.

 Many pilgrims from Surabaya joined the monthly pilgrimage, a special time for communal prayer.

The Mass was imbued with rich Javanese cultural elements, harmoniously blending Javanese customs with Catholic rituals, creating a spiritually enriching experience for the pilgrims.

"I always make an effort to come to Puhsarang every Friday Legi night unless there are unavoidable obligations," said Susilo, a Catholic from Sidoarjo.

Maria from Surabaya, also present at the vigil, expressed her gratitude, saying, "Last night's Friday Legi prayer vigil Mass at the Lourdes Grotto, Puhsarang Kediri, was a blessing. May God bless us all."

During the procession to the Lourdes Grotto, participants walked while carrying lit candles and singing the hymn "At Lourdes in the Grotto." 

Each candle was placed before the statue of the Virgin Mary, a symbol of the sincerity of their prayers. Prayer requests, initially hung on tree branches, were burned one by one, symbolizing their submission of hopes and prayers to God through the intercession of Mother Mary.

Keroncong dan Seriosa Kian Redup, Final Bintang Radio 2024 di Surabaya Hanya Lomba Pop

Tren musik keroncong dan seriosa semakin meredup di Indonesia. Hal ini terlihat dari ajang Final Bintang Radio 2024 di Surabaya beberapa hari lalu, yang hanya melombakan kategori musik pop atau hiburan. 

Padahal sejak digelar pertama kali pada 1951, Bintang Radio yang pernah menjadi ajang paling bergengsi di Indonesia ini selalu memasukkan kategori seriosa, keroncong, dan hiburan.

Apakah ini menandakan keroncong dan seriosa sudah tak lagi diminati?

Musafir Isfanhari, dosen musik di Unesa dan mantan juri Bintang Radio, menilai keroncong dan seriosa masih memiliki penggemar, meski segmennya lebih kecil dibanding pop. "Di mana-mana begitu," ujarnya.

Isfanhari melihat keroncong justru sedang bangkit, terutama di kalangan anak muda. "Sekarang banyak grup keroncong muda dengan kualitas permainan bagus," katanya. 

Di Semarang bahkan muncul fenomena "Cong Rock," perpaduan keroncong dan rock yang tetap membawa nuansa khas keroncong. "Banyak grup keroncong sekarang semua anggotanya wanita. Di masa lalu, grup seperti ini hampir tak ada."

Untuk musik seriosa, Isfanhari menyebut bahwa di negara asalnya, Eropa, peminatnya memang terbatas. "Seriosa itu tidak seperti rock atau dangdut yang bisa tampil di lapangan sepak bola dengan ribuan penonton," jelasnya.

Ia menambahkan, seriosa dan keroncong tergolong "chamber music" atau musik kamar, yang idealnya dimainkan di ruangan tertutup. "Penontonnya datang berpakaian rapi dan memberi tepuk tangan secukupnya."

Namun, Isfanhari juga menyoroti tantangan besar bagi kedua genre ini jika dijadikan kategori lomba. "Kalau seriosa dan keroncong masuk ajang lomba, siapa yang mau mensponsori? Pasti sponsornya sedikit, dan ini masalah tersendiri," ujarnya.