TAKE IT ON

I first heard about Mindanao years ago, when I was in lower secondary school in the late 70s. Then I heard about this Nur Misuari, the leader once closely associated with Mindanao. But that was it. I didnt know much about that province - in Southern Philippines - until I got myself engaged fairly actively in academic discourses as a student in the University of Malaya. By then, not only we - the students from the Department of Southeast Asian Studies (back then, it wasnt really a 'department'; it was only a "Programme") - learned about Mindanao crisis, we also discussed about the four hot spots of the Southern Thailand provinces - Satun, Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat. Its all about "identity". Its a big deal. And it takes years for a government to find solutions, not without tears and blood. Malaysia has been playing a small part (or is it?) - as a mediator - in the Mindanao. The current general sentiment among the players shows that Indonesia could play a bigger role.

Last week, we had a short academic discourse on the Mindanao issue. Prof. Adbouh puts it exceedingly well by addressing issues relating to the future strategic arrangement under the new leadership especially with the new President sworning in by late June.

A lot of ideas poured in. Dato' Syed Ahmad Aidid, Dato' (Rtrd) Ambassdr Salehuddin, (Rtd) Colonel Ariffin, Dato' Qosim and a few other, especially those from the IDFR (Institute of Diplomatic & Foreign Relations) and Wisma Putra - apart from Prof Adbouh himself - contributed much to the discourse.

PORTUGUESE & LUSO-ASIAN LEGACIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, 1511-2011

The ISEAS's Team - L-R - Peters; Prof Pang; Laura; Pany

"We (Portuguese) were already here as early as 1509, but for the record, 1511 is the recognised time, officially". Michael - a Malaysian Portuguese whispered softly while we were in a meeting this morning.

Michael is the representative for the Portuguese community in Melaka. With his attentive close friend, Peters, Michael shared some of his experience with all of us during the first meeting which was held at the 16th floor in the UiTM Kampus Bandaraya's building, situated somewhere at OffJalan Hang Tuah, Melaka Town.

The meeting was basically about, in Laura Pang's (from ISEAS, Singapore-based Institute of South East Asian Studies) own words, "Portuguese and Luso-Asian Legacies in Southeast Asia, 1511-2010". The other four representatives from ISEAS, apart from Laura were, Mr Pany (the ISEAS's Director); Prof. Eul Pang; Geoff Wade (a specialist on ships, maritime navigation and shipwrecks); Mr. Tansen Sen (Director of Nalandan-Srivijaya Center); and Prof. Mike Miskic (archaeologist?).

Laura was mentioning something about an international conference, which will be organised in September this year, in Singapore and Melaka. Its a bit too early for me to say anything at the moment. I did not have ample time to do my homework since the notice - of having to attend the initial meeting in Melaka - was served to me only last nite. The impression I got the moment Ambassador (rtd.) Datuk Yusof started the meeting was that we (the Malaysian counterpart) should only be concentrating on the arrival nite (the conference participants will leave for Melaka from Singapore on the second day of the conference and head straight for dinner at the Portuguese village in Melaka).

Im not sure if we still have the time to submit conference papers for the session in Singapore. Laura was all prepared to accomodate for a few more papers that should come in later this month. I'll think about it perhaps after I got the chance to talk to a few colleagues, especially Datuk Yusof. I got so much in my mind - Portuguese, legacies, 500 years...I wonder what Datuk Ramlah has got to say about this. Anyway, Mr Pany was kind enough, and I got three good books from him - (1) Creating "Greater Malaysia": Decolonization and the Politics of Merger; (2) Malaya's First Year at the United Nations as reflected in Dr Ismail's Reports home to Tunku Abdul Rahman; and (3) Realizing the ASEAN Economic Community: A comprehensive Assessment. Thank you Pany!

(Headed home at 1630hrs; stopped for a drink at the Seremban R&R and had brewed coffee at Shalala's.)