Tenggarong, 17 June 2023 — The Regional Office for Language in East Kalimantan Province held a Dissemination to Strengthening the Regional Language Revitalization in East Kalimantan Province on Sunday, 17 June 2023 at the Grand Elty Singgasana Hotel, Tenggarong, Kutai Kartanegara. A hundred participants comprising representatives of the Education and Culture Agency of Kutai Kartanegara Regency, teachers, community leaders, Kutai Malay speakers communities, Kenyah speakers communities, literacy activists, language ambassadors, and mass media, attended the dissemination.
Halimi Hadibrata stated that the activity was a partnership program between the Agency for Language Development and Cultivation and the House of Representatives Commission X. Regional Language Revitalization (RBD) is motivated by concerns about the present condition of regional languages. Pertaining to IKN we must have a language, literature, and culture fortress for our children by increasing our children’s competitiveness to be multilingual children. Besides, it purposed to disseminate information related to Regional Language Revitalization that was carried out by the Regional Office for Language in East Kalimantan Province. In addition, hopefully, it can be a means for conveying aspirations from individuals and institutions on the implementation of the Regional Languages Revitalization of Kutai Malay and Kenyah that was carried out in the Kutai Kartanegara Regency.
Lilianto from the Education and Culture Agency of Kutai Kartanegara Regency stated Kutai Malay language revitalization has been pursued since 2012. Kutai Malay is expected to become the second official language next to Bahasa Indonesia at schools. In 2023, the Education and Culture Agency of Kutai Kartanegara Regency implemented a trial for Kutai Malay local content in 16 schools. It is taught by teachers who are involved in compiling Kutai Malay local content books. Furthermore, that trial was conducted in 50 schools this year. In the next year, 150 schools covered elementary and junior high schools as subjects. In the third year, it is expected to be taught throughout Kutai Kartanegara Regency. This program is in line with the Merdeka Belajar Curriculum that has been launched by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology.
Meanwhile, Abdul Rasyid, S.E., M.Si. Chairperson of DPRD Kutai Kartanegara expressed his gratitude to Hetifah Sjaifudian for her intensely fighting for the Kutai Malay language. He really appreciated and supported Hetifah for her efforts to preserve the Kutai Malay language. Kutai Malay language is expected to be the identity and characteristic of Kutai Kartanegara Regency and should not be lost caused by the progress and diversity in Kutai Kartanegara.
Dr. Iwa Lukmana, M.A. Head of the Centre for Language Strengthening and Empowerment expressed his appreciation to Hetifah Sjaifudian and the House of Representatives Commission X for assisting the Agency for Language Development and Cultivation in publishing the Agency’s programmes to the public. Also, as a public accountability for the existence of the Agency for Language Development and Cultivation. Regional Language Revitalization is an effort to maintain regional languages. In addition, RBD through the Festival Tunas Bahasa Ibu (Mother Language Festival for Younger) can also foster the confidence of the young generation in Indonesia, particularly in Kutai. The young generations are expected to be regional language fighters, especially Kutai Malay and Kenyah.
Vice Chairperson of the House of Representatives Commission X RI Hetifah Sjaifudian explained and hoped that the local government can continue to preserve the culture and the use of local languages for the culture sustainability purpose. Then, Kutai Kartanegara has been made for that purpose. The central government’s task is to strengthen these efforts through the planned programs.
Local languages should characterize their communities. In East Kalimantan, a variety of regional languages originate from different tribes, such as Kutai Malay, Kenyah, and Banjar. The dissemination aimed to revive and strengthen regional language use in daily life. It could be important considering immigrants who come to IKN. They could potentially shift the regional languages with dominant global languages.
Continuously, she ensured the central government through the House of Representatives will support this program with cooperation in regulatory, institutional, and budgetary aspects. In addition, she also advised the Government of Kutai Kartanegara Regency to prepare the formation of a regional language teacher proposal. It used to support the local content implementation of the Kutai Malay Language at schools in the Kutai Kartanegara Regency. (dh)
Translated by Muhammad Erwin Darma