PADANG PANJANG, kiprahkita.net – For the first time in two decades, the Mars Muhammadiyah anthem was solemnly sung in Mandarin at the Pesantren Kauman Muhammadiyah in Padang Panjang.
Not only that, but the beautiful recitation of the Quran was also presented with its Mandarin translation, delivered in an enchanting manner by the students.
This historic moment unfolded on Thursday (19/12) during an interactive talk show titled Yearning for the Land of the Red Dragon. The event featured Mandarin native speaker Mr. Wang Daxin, accompanied by interpreter Feri Ansori.
Mr. Wang Daxin is no ordinary figure. He heads the Confucius Institute, an organization renowned for facilitating Indonesian students to study in China through scholarships or self-funded programs.
Meanwhile, Feri Ansori, head of the Mandarin Language and Chinese Culture Program at Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia, is a prominent academic. A former reporter and editor for Metro TV, he pioneered the Mandarin-language news program Metro XinWen.
The event began with a ceremonial rendition of the Mars Muhammadiyah anthem and a Mandarin translation of the Quran, led by the Chairperson of the Pimpinan Daerah Muhammadiyah (PDM) of Padang Panjang Batipuh X Koto (Pabasko) Musriadi Musanif.
The event was also attended by Vice Chairman of the Kauman Boarding School Board, Drs. H. Yandri Naga, Treasurer Drs. H. Afrijal Harun, the Boarding School Director Dr. Derliana, MA, along with Vice Directors H. Amel Dahlan, Surya Bunawan, MA, and Insan Ahda Hasibuan.
Joining them were Ustaz Syekh Ibrahim Al-Said, an Arabic native speaker from Egypt, and other teachers, including Umi and Ustadz, who warmly welcomed the students’ enthusiasm.
The Fourth International Language at Kauman
Derliana explained that Mandarin is the fourth international language introduced to students, following English, Arabic, and Japanese.
“China has developed rapidly and is now an open country. Their industrial and technological products are advancing quickly. This is an opportunity we must seize. Mastering Mandarin is the best way to harness China’s progress,” she stated.
She expressed gratitude to the Confucius Institute and Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia for building bridges that connect Kauman students to China.
“Want to study in China? Kauman is the path. Want to work in China? Kauman is the way,” she declared, met with enthusiastic cheers from Kauman students and junior high school students from Padang Panjang who joined the program.
Towards an International Boarding School
In his opening remarks, Musriadi, representing the Muhammadiyah organization, extended a warm welcome to Mr. Wang Daxin, Mr. Feri Ansori, and their team.
“Your presence at this Mandarin talk show is a great honor for us. We hope that, beyond the success of this event, you will also enjoy the beauty of Padang Panjang,” he said.
He described Padang Panjang as a charming small city with cool air, famous cuisine, and stunning scenery surrounded by three main Minangkabau mountains—Marapi, Singgalang, and Tandikek—and the Bukit Barisan mountain range.
Musriadi highlighted that Pesantren Kauman aims to become an international institution.
The collaboration between PDM Pabasko, the Kauman Board, and Muhammadiyah West Sumatra is a proud achievement, especially with partnerships established with Mandarin language centers in China and Universitas Al Azhar Indonesia.
“Mastering just one international language is insufficient in today’s globalized world. As a generation poised to make a mark on the global stage, proficiency in Mandarin provides a significant competitive advantage,” he emphasized.
With Mandarin now recognized as one of the most widely used international languages alongside English and Arabic, Kauman students are well-positioned to take on global challenges. (rel)
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