“Indonesia has not yet become a developed country because the majority of its people that are yet to have proper attitude and behavior,” said Drs. Hendig Winarno, Deputy Head of the National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN), Development of Nuclear Technology Board, in front of more than 2,000 prospective graduates of the Bachelor Program October Period who crowded Grha Sabha Pramana on Tuesday (17/10).
Hendig took an example of one country in the world that is seen as a developed one, despite the less than Indonesia’s natural resources potential, namely Japan. There, he said, ethics and discipline are the basic capitals that are always taught since a young age to adulthood. “I was scolded by my Professor because I missed something while doing a research, he then advised if I paid no heed then it was better for me to go back to Indonesia and didn’t have to continue the doctoral program in Japan,” Hendig said.
Such an attitude according to Hendig has become a culture inherent in Japanese people. Starting from government officials to ordinary citizens, all have the same passion for caring for the things that become the basic principles in the social environment. One of the factors that made Japan a developed country as it is, even though it was slumped on second world war. “Such habit does not exist in Indonesia, the culture does, only the implementation doesn’t yet take effect,” said the alumnus of Nuclear Engineering UGM.
It also becomes an inspiration in leading the state institution that he loves, BATAN. He also advised, other than the intellectual excellence owned by UGM graduates, alumni must also be able to pioneer the proper social attitude and behavior.
On the same occasion, Dr. Harry Widianto, Director of Cultural Heritage Preservation and Museum, Directorate General of Culture, Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, expressed his concern for the fading spirit to preserve the national cultural heritage.
According to this UGM Archaeological Alumnus, who is also an expert of Indonesian early humans, the advancement value of a nation that is only viewed from the income derived from the economic activities actually adversely affect the existence of cultural heritage. He pointed out, some historical heritage buildings in Indonesia almost disappeared due to the impact of development, as happened in Cinde Market, Palembang.
“The Cultural Heritage must remain sustainable, but the regional economy must also still take place, it’s not about to sacrifice one of them,” he said.
“Cultural preservation is a nation’s heritage, in the form of material heritage, buildings, structures, and sites, both on land and in water that must be preserved, because they are of great value for history, religion, education, and cultural sciences in Indonesia,” he added.
Both Hendig and Harry are alumni of UGM who are invited to the event “Graduates Debriefing of Postgraduate Program of October 2017 Period”. Both are also considered to be potential UGM alumni who now occupy strategic positions in state institutions. Both motivations are expected to give UGM graduates what they need to further develop outside of the campus of Gadjah Mada. [Eggy]