INDONESIA'S CULTURAL VOYAGE FOCUSSING ON SPICE RELATIONS TO REACH MELAKA SUNDAY

KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 (Bernama) -- A cultural sailing mission from Indonesia titled Muhibah Budaya Jalur Rempah (MBJR) 2024 bound for Melaka will make a port call in the historic state from June 30 to July 3. 

Indonesia’s Director-General of Culture Hilmar Farid in a statement said the sailing mission launched by the republic’s  Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry  focuses on the "Spice Route and Malay Cultural Connectivity" aiming to revive the legacy and the importance of spice routes.

“...Melaka, is a city which was once one of the famous ports on the East-West Spice Routes…,” he said.

He said for this voyage, the ministry collaborated with Indonesia’s Navy which brought its renowned three-masted naval ship KRI  Dewaruci. The warship departed from Tanjung Priok Military Sea Command port in Jakarta  on June 7, visiting several cities in Indonesia, set its course to Melaka and will return to Jakarta on July 17.

According to Hilmar,  MBJR mission is not just about remembering history, but also rekindling connections.

"This mission serves as a platform to re-activate the spice routes, connecting its trading points and strengthening cultural connectivity between regions and people, especially in Indonesia and Malaysia," said Hilmar.

He said MBJR also reflected Indonesia's rich maritime history. Historically, the spices of the Nusantara have united civilisations across the world. In their heyday, the spice routes did not just trade goods, they enabled an exchange of ideas and cultures.

“By revisiting these connections, we hope to spice up our present-day relationships and pave the way for a more prosperous future for both nations,” said Hilmar. 

According to him, Dewaruci, crewed by 87 personnel of the Indonesian Navy, set into three sailing routes from Jakarta with each route ferrying 50 participants known as spice warriors including journalists, writers, researchers, influencers, cultural experts and practitioners.

Along this voyage, KRI Dewaruci will visit seven points that were parts of the spice routes, starting from Jakarta, East Belitung, Dumai, Sabang and set the course to Melaka, he added. 

Hilmar said in Melaka the Spice Route Festival will be held at the front arena of Muzium Rakyat from June 30 to  July 2.

A seminar regarding the importance and impact of spice routes  will take place where experts from Indonesia and Malaysia will lead discussions on connectivity and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

KRI Dewaruci will be opened for registered public visits while docked at Tanjung Bruas Port, Melaka, he said

Hilmar said the sailing mission has been conducted since 2020 as part of Indonesia’s National Priority Programme in the cultural sector. It aims to engage youth as cultural ambassadors while strengthening international diplomacy through shared heritage

The connectivity of spice routes across regions on a global scale creates a shared cultural heritage among nations, serving a strong asset for bolstering international diplomacy, he said.

This cultural mission is also expected to contribute to the revitalisation of the spice routes, aiming for shared prosperity by highlighting cultural richness as its main attraction, he added. 

-- BERNAMA