JAKARTA (KU) - Alumni Association of Universitas Gadjah Mada (Kagama) held an open house on Saturday (25/9), in Operation Room of Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration (Kemenakertrans). The gathering of alumni who are in Jakarta was attended by Chairman of Kagama Central Board, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, Minister of Manpower of Transmigration, Muhaimin Iskandar, Director General of Relations with the United States and Europe of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, members of parliament, Aria Bima, Ganjar Pranowo, and member of the Central Election Commission, Endang Sulastri.
Sri Sultan said in his speech that halal bi halal is an activity to forgive each other among society, encompassing ethnic, social, and cultural boundaries. Besides to improve mutual trust with each other, forgiving people, said the Sultan, releases a person from feeling depressed, resentment, anger, and hatred. "As part of Kagama, we use this moment to stay in touch and forgive each other. No abundant gifts and no glorious deeds but mutual forgiveness and sincerity," he said.
Muhaimin Iskandar who hosted the gathering was wearing a brown batik; he looked glad while sitting with the Sultan in the front row. By the committee, he was asked to open the event. Not much was conveyed by Cak Imin, as he is familiarly called. Several times he expressed gratitude to the invited guests.
His happiness was reasonable because the participants were many that filled up the meeting room of Kemenakertrans building at Kalibata. Some alumni had to stand in the back row because they did not get a seat. Cak Imin said invitation was distributed through social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and text messages was quite effective and responded by the alumni.
Although a routine activity every three months, the meeting this time, according to Cak Imin, was special along with the momentum of Shawwal. "This event is the continuation of the same routine meetings held alternately in Jakarta. Previously, it was also held at the office of KEMENPORA," said the man graduated from Department of Sosiatry UGM.
Although the atmosphere and service are quite simple, Cak Imin hoped that “blue campus” alumni meeting is able to strengthen friendship and solidarity among alumni. "I hope it is able to strengthen solidarity in building this country, because this organization is demanded in building the nation and state," he said.
The same phrase was also conveyed by the Committee Chairman, Joko Sidik Pramono, who was met on the sidelines of the event. He said that the alumni meeting like this is routinely held every year in order to strengthen communication among the alumni. The meeting was expected to unite Kagama commitment to contribute to improve the welfare of society. "UGM Alumni who are in the ranks of the executive, legislative, and judiciary, through Kagama, are expected to provide the best for the community," said Director General of Training and Development of Transmigration Society Areas (P2KMT) of Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration.