Indonesia, Malaysia Hold Alumni Run to Strengthen Ties

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and Malaysia held a joint running event on Sunday, May 10, 2026, aimed at strengthening friendship and solidarity among university alumni from both countries.

The event took place at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology in Senayan, Jakarta, where hundreds of participants celebrated nearly 70 years of diplomatic ties through the Alumni Run Putrajaya-Jakarta.

“This is an important occasion, because what truly drives Malaysia and Indonesia forward is the bond between their people. It is these people-to-people connections that deepen mutual understanding and goodwill between our nations,” Acting Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia, Farzamie Sarkawi, said after flagging off the runners.

Farzamie emphasized that the movement of people between Jakarta and Putrajaya plays a vital role in fostering closer ties. He added that harmonious communication at the government level can help improve prosperity across Southeast Asia.

“One of the strongest pillars of this relationship is our students -- the cooperation between Malaysian students and local universities here,” he noted.

Higher education is seen as a key sector that can boost the productivity of young people across the nation. Thousands of university graduates are expected to strengthen personal connections in pursuit of strategic goals for future national development.

“We want this cooperation between Malaysia and Indonesia to grow even stronger, because we are brotherly nations, neighbors with shared roots. We hope to see more collaboration in education, with both countries supporting each other for development, especially as Indonesia moves toward its Indonesia Emas 2045,” said Director of Education Malaysia Indonesia (EMI), Hasnul Faizal Hushin Amri.

Hasnul reaffirmed his commitment to encouraging alumni participation through annual sports programs. He noted that international educational institutions consistently foster academic synergy, helping to build a resilient learning ecosystem.

“In Indonesia, Malaysian students join IKAPIM (Indonesian-Malaysian Student Family Association), while in Malaysia they are part of PKPM (National Association of Malaysian Students in Indonesia). This shows the strong cooperation between both organizations,” he added.

The joint run was also viewed as a form of public diplomacy, designed to inspire the next generation. Sports, organizers emphasized, serve as an effective medium to promote physical health while enhancing productivity among active workers.

“We hope this initiative continues to grow, so that Indonesia-Malaysia relations become even more harmonious. At the same time, we want to strengthen the spirit of sports for shared health benefits,” said Riza Adha Damanik, Deputy at the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Riza believes that outdoor physical activity can act as a bridge to unite diverse social groups. A sustained commitment to sports, he added, is essential for maintaining stable partnerships among stakeholders in both nations.

“This event offers a different perspective, through sports. I believe it creates a new dimension of closeness between our people,” Riza Adha Damanik concluded. (Diffa Sephiawardhani/EN)