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BAHASA INDONESIA
Important Indonesian Language - 21st Century

This page was created because the meaning of some of the language used during this reformation era appears to be unclear to many people here in Indonesia. Perhaps I can now better understand one of primary sources of the problem.

After visiting a large well-known bookshop in Jakarta to try to find an Indonesian dictionary that contained definitions of words like "Collusion" Kolusi, "Corruption" Korupsi and "Nepotism" Nepotisme. I was amazed to find a popular dictionary that didn't even contain the words, and others that were certainly far from complete - how could this be?

After examining many more dictionaries I eventually found one from the Indonesian Ministry of Education (Central Library) that was quite complete however very expensive for Indonesians (more than Rp200,000.00). I'm sure that not many Indonesians would or could buy this dictionary, especially during this economic crisis. So, as Pendidikan Network is supposed to be a source of educational information one of its responsibilities should be to help define important language like this.

On the Indonesian version of this page I have provided a form to allow visitors to the page to forward words for which they believe the meanings may not be clear. This section is purely experimental; a form of simplistic research, in order to help identify words that visitors believe may be unclear in meaning to the general public. Below are the dictionary definitions of the original three words that I was searching for:

"Kolusi n kerja sama rahasia untuk maksud tidak terpuji; persekonkolan: hambatan usaha pemerataan berupa -- antara pejabat dan pengusaha;
berkolusi v melakukan kolusi: pejabat tinggi negara yg seharusnya menjadi panutan masyarakat, ternyata ada yg menggunakan wibawa jabatannya untuk ~ "
(Ref. Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, 2001, P 582)

Comment only: As an example, in advanced countries government officials are not permitted to work together with business in their official capacity because of the high possibility of collusion. For instance, even though staff at the Department of Education in Australia, from their own experience are aware of brands of equipment that are good, they are not permitted to mention the brands because of the possibility of collusion. The public is always very suspicious when officials, departments, or directorates are aligned with businesses or business interests. Business does not need to work with government officials in order to provide a useful, quality product or service (and vice-versa). [P.Rekdale 28/4/01]

"Korupsi n penyelewengan atau penyalahgunaan uang negara (perusahan dsb) untuk keuntungan pribadi atau orang lain;
~ waktu (cak) penggunaan waktu dinas (bekerja) untuk urusan pribadi
mengorupsi v menyelewenkan atau menggelapkan (uang dsb) "
(Ref. Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, 2001, P 597)

"Nepotisme n 1 perilaku yg memperlihatkan ke sukaan yg berlebihan kpd kerabat dekat:, 2 kecenderungan untuk mengutamakan (menguntungkan) sanak saudara sendiri; terutama dl jabatan, pangkat di lingkungan pemerintah; 3 tindakan memilih kerabat atau sanak saudara sendiri untuk memegang pemerintahan; para pemimpin banyak melakukan korupsi, menyalahgunakan kekuasaan dan cenderung ke arah ~ "
(Ref. Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, 2001, P 780)

Probably the most important word during this era of reformation is the word "reformation" reformasi itself.
Is this country in the process of reformation?

"reformasi n perubahan secara drastis untuk perbaikan (bidang sosial, politik, atau agama) dl suatu masyarakat atau negara; ... "
(Ref. Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, 2001, P 939)

  • "drastis a 1 tegas dan cepat; keras dan berpengaruh cepat: ... 2 menyeluruh; radikal: ... 3 hebat; luar biasa: ... "
    (Ref. Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, 2001, P 276)

    REFERENCE:
    Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia
    Edisi Ketiga
    Departemen Pendidikan Nasional
    Balai Pustaka
    Jakarta, 2001
    PT (Persero) Publisher and Printer

To find out what words have been submitted by visitors to this page click here.

Phillip Rekdale

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