Be Active In Social Service, Zahrain Tells M'sian Students In Indonesia

By Azeman Ariffin MAKASSAR (INDONESIA), Oct 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysian students at various universities in Indonesia have been encouraged to participate in social service activities to contribute to the local community. Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia, Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said the contribution would serve as epitome to the overall attitude of Malaysians who were ready to contribute their services while abroad. "This is what we hope, the students should not only come here to study but willing to carry out social service for the benefit of the community," he said when opening the #MalaysiaPeduli programme here Sunday. The programme was organised by the Makassar branch of the Malaysian Students National Association in Indonesia (PKPMI) and Education Malaysia in Indonesia. Zahrain said Malaysian students needed to show excellence not only in studies but also in social activities so that they would be respected by the Indonesians. He said Makassar was a district in South Sulawesi and important for Malaysia for it had a very special trade and social relation with Malaysia, besides similarities in culture. He said due to the close relationship - besides the large number of students in Universiti Hasanuddin here - the government had appointed an honorary consulate in Makassar to serve as communicator between the district and Malaysia. Meanwhile, PKPMI president Muhammad Lutfi Mohamad Yunus said the programme was a part of social activities of Malaysian students in the university. Among free services offered were blood test to diagnose diabetes, high blood pressure and cholestrol, besides briefings on sypmtoms of the diseases, he added. He said a total of 319 Malaysian students were in the medical field at Universiti Hasanuddin while over 100 people took part in the event. Also present were Zahrain's wife, Che Mahani Ismail and senior officers and heads of department of the Malaysian Embassy in Indonesia. -- BERNAMA