AUTHOR'S WRITINGS PROPOSED AS UNIFYING FACTOR FOR MALAYSIA, INDONESIA

BANGI (Malaysia), Jan 26 (Bernama) -- The Information Communication and
Culture Ministry has proposed that the writings of prominent Indonesian author,
ulama and politician Abdul Malik Karim Amarullah, better known as Hamka, be used
as a unifying element for Indonesia and Malaysia.

Its minister Dr Rais Yatim said this was because Hamka was a
unique individual from the Malay world who had contributed much to unity between
the two countries during his lifetime.

"An icon who should be emulated by today's generation, Hamka wrote at least
68 books and gave numerous speeches. We should see his works as his contribution
to Indonesia-Malaysia civilisation.

"In this regard, the ministry intends to offer a grant of RM100,000
(US$1=RM3.36) to a university undergraduate to undertake comprehensive research
on this prominent figure towards achieving a Ph.D.

"As I personally had close ties with Hamka before his death (in 1981), his
contribution needs to be seen from the aspect of enculturing language, making
Malay Language and Indonesia Language the lingua franca and language of
knowledge in the Malay Archipelago," he told reporters after opening a regional
seminar in conjunction with Hamka's centenary, at National University of
Malaysia (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), here, Monday.

Also present were UKM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed
Hasan Shahabudin and Indonesian deputy ambassador to Malaysia, Tatang Budie
Utama Razak.

Hamka was a Minangkabau from West Sumatra whose intellectual influence
extended beyond Indonesia to the whole of Malaysia.

An autodidact, he was well-versed in many subjects such as philosophy,
literature, history, religion, sociology, journalism and politics, from both the
Islamic and Western sides.

His works have become reference and research material for students in
Indonesia and Malaysia.

Earlier, in his speech, Rais said the seminar, aimed at remembering Hamka's
contributions in various fields, should perhaps consider making his works a
cultural bridge and unifying factor for Indonesia and Malaysia.

"Hamka was a thinker and universalist who loved humanity. He often spoke on
struggles, knowledge and so on. He was God's gift to us all," he said.

-- BERNAMA