Tarakan, 27 July 2023 — The 2023 Abdi Bahasa in Tarakan City was implemented for three days, 25-27 July 2023, and 44 junior high school students attended in Tarakan City—enthusiasm shown by participants. It placed at the Tarakan City Library and Archives Agency, Jalan Jendral Sudirman 14 Tarakan. Charolyn Stivany (the 2018 Language Ambassador of Kaltim-Kaltara), Muhammad Abby (the 2022 Language Ambassador of Kaltim-Kaltara), and Rona Safira Ihin (the 2023 Language Ambassador of Kaltim-Kaltara) delivered book reviews material as a Krida implementation of the Language Ambassador of Regional Office for Language in East Kalimantan Province.
Tamrin Toha, S.T., M.Sc. The head of the Education and Culture Agency of Tarakan City officially opened the event—besides, Ir. Edi Suriansyah, M.Si. The head of the Library and Archives Agency of Tarakan City was invited to attend that opening ceremony.
Practically, participants were directed to borrow books at the Tarakan City Library, then asked to read, review, and dissect books guided by the Language Ambassadors of East Kalimantan and North Kalimantan. It is hoped that participants carried out book review activities so as their literacy interest and love of the library increased.
Tamrin Toha, S.T., M.Sc. the Head of the Education and Culture Agency of Tarakan City expressed his appreciation to the Regional Office for Language in East Kalimantan Province for helping to stimulate the literacy spirit of the young generation and hoped that participants follow and pay close attention to the material delivered by the Language Ambassadors of East Kalimantan and North Kalimantan.
In accordance with three principles of language development (Trigatra Bangun Bahasa), it is expected that the participants of Abdi Bahasa more enthusiastic in terms of prioritizing Indonesian, preserving regional languages, and mastering foreign languages. Enthusiasm for reading books and participating in campaigning for the prioritization of Indonesian in public spaces.
In his speech, Tamrin Toha revealed that the young generation must have an identity in the field of language strengthening as the tip of the sword of the nation. (dh)
Translated by Muhammad Erwin Darma