2006 APJC Fellowships: Challenges facing Indonesia and Malaysia June 2006, Indonesia and Malaysia

PARTICIPANTS APJC fellows: Ms Fiona Carruthers, feature writer, Australian Financial Review, Sydney Mr Gavin Fang, senior producer, ABC Asia Pacific News TV, Melbourne Ms Marion MacGregor, radio journalist and broadcaster, Radio Australia, Melbourne Ms Amanda McLeay, senior journalist and news producer, Channel Ten News, Brisbane Ms Maria Moscaritolo, issues and opinion editor, The Advertiser, Adelaide Mr Simon Palan, business and finance reporter, ABC TV, Sydney Ms Sacha Payne, senior journalist, SBS Radio, Melbourne Ms Ruth Pollard, health reporter, Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney The following Indonesian journalists joined the program in Indonesia: Mr Anton Alibasyah, DetikCom News Portal, Jakarta Mr Ifran Junaedi, Republika Daily Newspaper, Jakarta Ms Rieska Wulandari, Indonesia correspondent for Japan News Agency, Jakarta In-field study tour leaders: In Java: Mr M.M.I. Ahyani, freelance journalist, Bandung In Kuala Lumpur: Mr Zainal Mokhtar, Institute of Strategic and International Studies In Kota Bahru: Ms Farah Taharim, Media Relations Adviser, Australian High Commission, Kuala Lumpur John Wallace, Program Director of the APJC The program The program began in Melbourne on Sunday 4 June with an introductions and briefing session at the APJC, followed by dinner attended by former fellows. The next morning fellows attended an orientation program at the Sidney Myer Asia Centre in Melbourne. Speakers were Ms Dewi Anggraeni, correspondent for Tempo news magazine and contributor to The Jakarta Post, Mr K.C. Boey, journalist at The Age and contributor to the New Sunday Times in Malaysia, Professor Tim Lindsey, Professor of Asian Law and director of the Asian Law Centre, University of Melbourne, Ms Jenny McGregor, chief executive officer, Asialink, and Dr Wendy Smith, director of the Centre for Malaysian Studies, Monash University. Later that day, fellows travelled to Malaysia. The group spent four nights in Kuala Lumpur and two in Kota Bahru (Kelantan State) and made visits in and around these cities. People and organisations visited included the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Terrorism, the Australian High Commission for private briefings, the Institute of Strategic and International Studies, the National Economic Action Council at Putra Jaya, The Star newspaper, the Institute of Islamic Understanding, International Movement for a Just World, Sisters in Islam, UMNO Youth Movement in Kota Bahru, PAS in Kota Bahru, and Eddin Khoo, writer and Kelantanese arts instructor. The group flew to Indonesia on Sunday 11 June, arriving in Solo, Central Java, and staying in Yogyakarta (2 nights), Semarang (1 night) and Jakarta (3 nights). People and organisations visited included the Ngruki and Windan pestantrens in Solo, Prambanan Temple, Muhammadiyah Headquarters, AusAID personnel in the Yogyakarta earthquake area, the Sultan and Governor of Yogyakarta, Borobudur, Mt Merapi monitoring station, National Police Academy, including counter-terrorism centre, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Australian embassy for private briefings, Mr Juwono Sudarsono, Indonesian Defence Minister, Yayasan Pantau, and Mr Abdurrahman Wahid, former president and chair of Nahdlatul Ulama. An evaluation and review session was held on Friday 16 June, followed by a farewell dinner. The group departed for Australia late Saturday 17 June. Assistance with program The APJC would like to acknowledge the hospitality and/or other assistance provided by organisations and individuals in Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia. In Java: Mr M.M.I. Ahyani, freelance journalist, Bandung In Kuala Lumpur: Mr Zainal Mokhtar, Institute of Strategic and International Studies In Kota Bahru: Ms Farah Taharim, Media Relations Adviser, Australian High Commission, Kuala Lumpur John Wallace, Program Director of the APJC Australia: The Myer Foundation (major supporter) Australia Malaysia Institute Advertiser Newspapers John Fairfax Limited Australian Broadcasting Commission Network Ten SBS Mr Mark Baker, Diplomatic Editor, The Age Ms Dewi Anggraeni Mr K.C. Boey Professor Tim Lindsey Ms Jenny McGregor Dr Wendy Smith Malaysia: Institute of Strategic & International Studies, Kuala Lumpur Institute of Islamic Understanding, Malaysia Australian High Commission, Kuala Lumpur The Star Newspaper International Movement for a Just World Sisters in Islam Eddin Khoo, writer and instructor in Kelantanese arts Indonesia: Windan Pesantren, Surakarta Professor Ahmad Syafi'I Ma'arif, Muhammadiyah, Yogyakarta Mr Endy Bayuni, Chief Editor, The Jakarta Post Australian Embassy, Jakarta Yayasan Pantau, Jakarta Centre for International and Strategic Studies, Jakarta APJC fellows prepare to enter the grounds of a mosque in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Waiting for nasi goreng in central Java. Filming the ashes of active volcano Mt Merapi. A temporary classroom in Kelatan district after the earthquake. Meeting former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid.