Around 20,000 Indonesians call Melbourne home, ABS data shows. With a predominantly younger group of diaspora, Melbourne, and Victoria more broadly, becomes a melting pot of Indonesians past and present, old and new. This comes at a time when Indonesia and Australia continue to strengthen bilateral ties and brings about even more opportunities.
Pak Kuncoro Giri Waseso, Consul General for the Republic of Indonesia in Melbourne, joins Billy Adison Aditijanto on The Perantau Podcast to share his thoughts on Melbourne’s Indonesian diaspora, progress on language and cultural exchange, trade and economic bilateral ties, and what makes Melbourne’s Indonesian diaspora stand out.
This episode is predominantly delivered in Bahasa Indonesia. Transcripts are available in English.
Find the Consulate General for the Republic of Indonesia in Melbourne on:
Transcript
[English]
BILLY: Hey everyone! I’m Billy and welcome back to the Perantau Podcast.
This time we have a very special episode, because we have Pak Kuncoro Giri Waseso, Consul General for the Republic of Indonesia in Melbourne. Pak Kuncoro commenced his term in 2021, when Melbourne was still in the midst of a disorienting lockdown. Since then, in the last three years, the Indonesian community in Melbourne, and Victoria more broadly, have faced many changes, both positive and negative.
Grateful is a theme that we follow in this episode. As Pak Kuncoro feels grateful for the time he has spent in Melbourne over the last few years, I too am grateful to have been able to record this episode in his office, at the Indonesian Consulate. I would also like to thank Mas Geovannie Foresty, who was in the room with us during the episode, as well as Mba Fitri Ani and Mas Razan Bahri, as part of the Consulate staff who helped made this happen.
So without further ado, let’s welcome Pak Kuncoro.
Getting to know Pak Kuncoro (1:06)
KUNCORO: Wait, have we started? Hahaha. Alright. Billy, Billy Adison. Welcome to my office, an antique office. Thank you for the opportunity to, what did you call it, The Perantau Podcast? Right. What was your question?
Ah yes, who am I. This is a difficult question. Who am I. Yes, personally, of course, I am the head of a family with three children, one wife. My career, of course, is a diplomat’s career. So it started from the beginning like other diplomats. When I was trusted to be here to serve as the Consul General, I’m here now with you all, with all the diasporic friends, ranging from PPIA [the Indonesian students association of Australia] and other Indonesian diaspora groups. To promote Indonesia, to advance Indonesia in its relationship with Victoria in particular, and with Australia more broadly.
Generally, I’m an ordinary man. I get together with friends. If someone’s playing music, I join in. If someone’s hanging out, I hang out too, even though I’m not as cool as you young people. Other than that, I’m your friend. Not much really that seperates us. Does that answer your question?
First impressions and being grateful (3:00)
BILLY: Amazing, spot on. I think it really encompasses the very essence of you in and the time you’ve spent here. That brings me to my next question. Using just one word, what word best describes your impression of your time in Melbourne for the past 3 years, and why?
KUNCORO: Yeah, when I was reading your question beforehand, it was a challenge to find the kind of word. How do you translate Alhamdulillah? Should be ‘thank God’, right? But that’s two words, hahaha. Grateful, then. Grateful is by choice, so Alhamdulillah in Indonesian [context].
BILLY: And what are you grateful for, exactly? There are a lot of things to be grateful for.
KUNCORO: Ah exactly. Like what I said earlier, I’m here as a friend, as an ordinary person. If someone’s playing music, I’ll play along. Outside of work, when I’m not the Consul General, if there’s anyone hanging out, I’ll hang out. I feel supported by all of you here, the diaspora. I always tell my friends, we should be grateful. We should be grateful here. When it’s time for us to look for activities, we’ve been given activities by all of you, by the diaspora. All of you diaspora. All of it, unlimited. What we do is more to endorsing, more to engaging, then together collaboratively we run those events.
Let’s picture, when my Consulate colleagues and I remember our times working – for me it was deployment in Europe – with the size of Indonesian diaspora far from Melbourne’s, we had to think of activities and ways to engage [the community.] The first three months in a year, what do we have to prepare? What of the second trimester? Then what of the third trimester? And so on.
Here, we already have the preparation, added with a combination of collaboration from the diaspora. It has been served to us from the beginning. We already have something for January. February is there, then March. So we are grateful that everything is there. Very complete. You can mention from art collaborations, from cultural collaboration, from economic collaboration. We feel incredibly supported by [diaspora] efforts to also protect the Indoensian citizens here in the country. That’s what I call grateful.
So first, that’s work. Second, it’s passion. We would never be faced with the feeling of longing for Indonesia now that we have a lot of Indonesian food everywhere. If you know, there are more than 51 [Indonesian] restaurants and cafés in Melbourne based on our data. We struggle in other places, in other countries. Not to mention the taste in those restaurants that are authentic, original, just as you would find in Indonesia.
When we’re walking in the CBD and hear someone else speak Indonesian, it’s not even missing Indonesia at this point because it doesn’t really feel like we’re in another country. We have become comfortable with everything we would ever need.
Something else that we can be grateful for is in Melbourne, it is known as a place with four seasons in a day. But of course, it’s not too extreme compared to other places. It’s almost like us [Indonesia]. There’s a little bit of cold – though for us, there’s only rain and heat. But the rain is light and not too heavy. That’s what makes us happy. Everything is supported, the Consulate is incredibly supported by the community, and likewise we are able to engage with everyone. That’s what we should be grateful for, and please don’t hesitate to reach out because it’s the community that always pushed up to host all of our events.
Dealing with the pandemic (7:07)
BILLY: So looking back, we’re grateful for everything, for you personally and for the broader Indonesian diasporic community, we’re grateful for our situation and environment. So 3 years ago, you came here during the pandemic. So what were your first impressions when you got here?
KUNCORO: Yes, this is interesting. So there are a few clusters related to what I was telling you. My first memory [of the city] was in 1996. That was the first time I came to Melbourne. You weren’y born yet, were you?
BILLY: Not yet! Hahaha.
KUNCORO: So I finished my Masters degree in Wellington. When I flew back to Indonesia, I transited in Australia, never been to here before. I transited at Melbourne, a city that has been heard of in my ears, with a lot of exciting things going on. I came here, and I had become a diplomat at the time. Then, by chance, by the then-incumbent Consul General I was asked to stay at the house that I now live in. I remember going to the CBD, incredibly crowded and lively.
In 2021, I came during the lockdown pandemic. Of course, I had to go through a two week quarantine. After the two week quarantine, I had a chance to go to CBD. It was so quiet. When it was quiet, I thought, what should I do? Everything was on Zoom, everything was online. So, in the end, we should be creative. My first introduction was to our friends, among them at least, were AIYA [the Australia-Indonesia Youth Association] and The Krakatoas, footy. I was invited to watch the grand final.
BILLY: Yeah, we had another one just recently.
KUNCORO: The grand final between Melbourne Demons and Western Bulldog. I was engaged, I found it very interesting. That made me feel, “oh, even in lockdown, there are still people who are engaged with us.” Clearly, they’re happy too. But of course it’s not easy when we go through the lockdown process, where sometimes it opens up then at other times it closes back down. But I also respect how everyone obeys Victorian government in the context of five kilometers radius restriction, where had to adapt our work and our routines to it. Those were my first impressions, we had to be creative.
BILLY: And in that climate of uncertainty, what were your most significant obsticles initally?
KUNCORO: Engaging all our stakeholders weren’t easy. Everything was conducted online. Oh I have a story. When were still under lockdown restrictions, I received a report that there was a community group around Laverton, near the Baitul Ma’mur Mosque. There is a community group, where the parents of our students, whose school was affected by COVID 19. Of course, the family was also exposed – not exposed, but affected – they were not allowed to leave the house.
Well, how do we share our efforts? I emboldened myself to send [necessary supplies], but of course under certain conditions that I followed: with masks, maintaining social distancing when we met our friends at the Baitul Ma’mur Mosque. We gave them supplies that we were able to give, and we didn’t stay too long and left as soon as we were able. That was what we did, an experience that I really remember.
Secondly, how we provided our services to our people that needed assistance; when sometimes the workplace was on, sometimes it was off, depending on the situtation.
At that time it was actually more than half a year later, at the beginning of 2022, there was still a lockdown. Things were still closed, but actually [starting to] open. The Consulate saw 14 staff, simultaneously, exposed to COVID 19. It was quite difficult for us, because with 14 staff [away], we were already confused about what to do. We temporarily closed the office and did everything to support our staff. After everything was over, everything goes as usual. That’s what we experienced at that time. Lockdown was also difficult when we had to meet new people. I did my first courtesy with the [City of Melbourne] governor at that time through virtual as well. I also held other meeting activities virtually. But after everything was open, we really enjoyed it. That was an interesting experience back then in 2021.
Even when I arrived at Melbourne, I remember being picked up by my friends, landing at the airport, but my friends were not allowed to bring our luggage. So I had to bring my own luggage, put it in the car myself. After that, those who went out must be quarantined. This is the kind of situation that will never happen again. We never hope for a pandemic like this again. But this is a unique experience that makes leaves an impression on us and sometimes, it’s amusing too. We still had to go through it all. That’s it, Billy.
Reflecting on Language, culture, and education (13:35)
BILLY: Ok, let’s take a break from the topic of the pandemic. Let’s talk about something else.
So I want to talk about… – when I was preparing for this interview, I had to do research first, what you’ve said to the media so far. So that there’s no overlap, right? Then I saw you had an interview with SBS Indonesia in 2021. There, you mentioned Indonesian culture and language as one of the priorities [of your tenure]. So, how far and how effective has that exchange been?
KUNCORO: You know, Billy, that reminds me that was my first interview with SBS, hosted by Ibu Sri Dean. So Ibu Sri, if you’re listening to this podcast, I hope you reminisce as well.
We had never met before. So, everything was done by phone and so on. We had the chance to record an interview like this, which I obliged. She was a bit awkward in how to pronounce my name. Was it Pak Giri or Pak Kuncoro? And whatnot for that first time.
It’s true that I told them about our goals. One of them was in promoting culture, promoting language. That’s actually just one of them, because there are so many. I was given direction by the leadership to promote the economy and the protection of our citizens.
And when you talked about culture and language, as I said earlier, the word is grateful. [Through] everything we were supported. Even though this is a process. For culture, I bear witness that Melbourne is the place to be.
Lastly, less than a month ago, we even signed an MOU, sister city [relationship] between Melbourne and Bandung. One of those [criteria] is cultural promotion. There are so many scopes of cooperation. But that’s one example. The other one, without mentioning, there are so many frameworks created by our friends.
A simple thing, like our friends yesterday at… What’s it called? At The University of Melbourne, right, Geovannie? [Looks to Geovannie Foresty Palembangan, Consul for Information, Social and Cultural Affairs].
They held what? Tempo Doeloe? Right, that’s also an important part. Before Tempo Doeloe, The University of Melbourne’s [Indonesian Student Association] also has IFF [Indonesian Film Festival]. They also had IFF. And that’s just from The University of Melbourne. There are so many. That’s a kind of promotion of exchange, exchange culture.
On the Indonesian side, Australia is also very smart. If we go back to two years ago for example, the last one, even the MSO [Melbourne Symphony Orchestra] held two events, I think. One included angklung elements in their musical orchestra at the Sydney Myer Music Bowl.
Looking to the future, there will still be so much of cultural exchange. On language, I say everything is in progress, there will be no stopping it. I don’t think I can fully raise and return everything [to as it was], because to be honest, when we came, it was already given.
There was already a situation where what interest in learning Indonesian. There are a few classes in the university that are closed. In La Trobe, it’s already closed. This is what makes us need to think more deeply about how to get the interest to learn to appear again, so the classes will be reopened. Those in high schools are still there, but in some campuses, it’s closed.
This is what happens. What is the problem? There are many, for example, teachers are needed. To create an atmosphere so that people will be interested in learning Indonesian again. Well, this is a process where we must reinvigorate both culture and language. This year, there’s already a full scale planning.
This year would usually end with Festival Indonesia, with the program, culture plus the Business Forum as well. We will raise, for example, the eastern element, the eastern Indonesia. We will engage more from Papua, from Maluku from NTT, if possible, to participate in the Festival Indonesia. We will continue to do this so that this becomes a way of life for our friends, not only the Consulate, but also the community. Because I’m sure the community will be happy and will support all of our efforts.
BILLY: Recently, in relation to the Bandung and Melbourne MoU. During the Emerging Leaders Roundtable Discussion, mas Geo mentioned there’s a chance for us to push gamelan and angklung – right, angklung to the Victorian curriculum, at least. How realistic is that kind of strategy?
KUNCORO: Well, we have to be optimistic. Our optimism is based on the groundwork that have been done by friends like Geovannie and his team at Pensosbud [Information, Social and Cultural Affairs]. Because every school year, we always come to school – KJRI goes to school – to do the angklung workshops. Then yesterday someone came here twice, even. One for angklung, one for gamelan. With that capital, in the future, we just have to find an initiative to make sure that the school has a curriculum. But if it has a curriculum, it means it has to have a permanent instructor. Well, this is what we don’t have yet. How can we recruit instructors? When we recruit instructors, we also have to think about how to accommodate instructors, how to pay for instructors, and so on.
If it’s a sporadic attitude, when it’s just KJRI that plays a role to promote or give a workshop, to invite. Actually, it’s not inviting, they are actually active, the schools actively visit KJRI to do a workshop. This will be the result. I’m optimistic, whether it will be done during my time here, or there are will be others here, or there are other friends, at some point. Angklung, the activities of angklung, this music, or the others, will be in schools.
Because in addition to the instructor, we also need the infrastructure. The infrastructure is the Gamelan music, the Angklung music. Angklung is actually seven octaves that must have complete equipment. If it can be there, it will be easy to use because they don’t use, if I’m not mistaken, it’s not the same as Gamelan [the notes]. So the notes are the same modern notes played easily by the students. So be optimistic, we can do it.
Business, trade, and economic bilateral ties (21:02)
BILLY: Okay, so from there we can see the soft power. Let’s use the term soft power. In terms of education, culture, language, all of that. Now, from the business side, from the side of Indonesian and Australian entrepreneurs, overtime we’ve seen tighter economic ties.
For example, with the Bandung Melbourne MoU as sister cities. Yes, of course, it is also very visible on the ground in Melbourne, where there are more and more Indonesian restaurants at 51 [businesses].
If we look at CBD, every block has one, two, three. It’s crowded. Well, a lot of people uses Indonesian names to sell Indonesian food. Some even open an Indonesian business branch in Melbourne, opened a franchise. Now, what is your view on this matter? Is there a new significant push for this? And what is the future trend?
KUNCORO: Right, well, you’ve gone on ahead to specifically address restaurants but I will start first with our efforts to push economic cooperation, trade cooperation between the two regions of Indonesia and Victoria in particular, where are located.
We formally started from our agreement that we ratified in 2019. IA-CEPA, Indonesia Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. From there, we went through everything. Before we got to restaurants, Bukalapak, for example, when we brought it here, it became a turning point and the crux that propelled that agreement.
It became one of the unicorns that came in, then it developed here. Even though it was not in the capacity for a commercial office, but more of a tech hub, which provided opportunities for talents in IT fields to work. But it is also a potential market. Then economic cooperation is also formed for other entrepreneurs.
Our trade balance is very good, although bilaterally we are still deficient, but with Victoria, we are experiencing surplus. We have reached the total trade between Indonesia and Australia averaging of AU$2. 6 billion.
Now, culinary is also part of all of that. Culinary [field] has developed very rapidly. My friends told me of new places to try, which I haven’t been able to. It keeps on growing. This is also because of the efforts of the friends that join the ICAF, Indonesian Culinary Association of Victoria, who are very intense in looking for and promoting, as well as encouraging friends to develop their culinary skills. All kinds of food here, you’ll find everything here.
Maybe what we need to push is one day, later, development, especially in the region. This is a friend of mine from ICAF, from, he’s already tried for, one corner, so to speak, there’s a kind of a series of Indonesian stalls that can be opened. That’s the ideal.
Other dreams or hopes have been achieved. One, in the month of – Geovannie when was the Indonesian Street Food Festival? What month was it? It’s fasting month, right? March. March? Yes. In the month of March, as you would know, Billy, we hosted the Indonesian Street Food Festival in Vic Market. It was a good success. It was a good success. It was held for two days. Mixed with cultural performance. It was interesting. Even if there was no street food festival, these restaurants would still be going regardless. My hope is that with the spread of street food, it will become a very large [cultural] capital to encourage other diasporas to do the same.
One thing that you, Billy, would know is that the Indonesian government encourages our diaspora to dare, to have effort, for entrepreneurship abroad. One of which is to open a restaurant, for example. So we hear more often what is called Indonesia Spice Up the World. Melbourne has become the model to set an example for other places. With their Indostar program, which includes the diaspora group for culinary development, we have already included quite a lot for culinary business, especially in Melbourne.
If we talk about places or areas, I still want to try, for example, Tasmania to be also developed. But of course we also have to adjust to our conditions and needs.
Could we see a “Little Indonesia” in Melbourne? (26:31)
BILLY: If we look at Victoria, or at least in Melbourne. Other diaspora, migrant groups tend to have, like, for example, “Oh look there’s a Greek corner, there we have a Little Korea,” or “Oh there’s Little Italy.” So far, Indonesia doesn’t have anything like that; a symbol or representation that’s unifying and symbolic of “Oh, this is a place to eat Indonesian food.” There is no such thing as a Little Indonesia or Mini Indonesia. Do you think those are on the cards? And if, maybe from your own experience, it’s not necessarily just being supportive, but are there tangible steps that we push through there?
KUNCORO: If really put in effort, it’ll happen. But, is that characteristic of us? The way I see it, Indonesian diaspora spread everywhere. They don’t necessarily rely on a group, they can blend in with their local communities. As such, Indonesian diaspora are spread out.
Okay, maybe back in the day, Clayton used to be called Kelaten, where all the [Indonesian] Monash students hung out. But it’s not as widespread as Indonesia or Malay villages. This kind of idea, since you brought it up, yesterday when I was talking to the Bandung delegation, there was also this small thing, “Pak Konjen, how about we start building a Little Bandung?”
I say it’s very interesting. Very interesting, but of course it’s not as easy as just building one West Javanese or Bandung restaurant. It can’t be just one restaurant. Because later everything has to be supported, right?
I hope later those creative diaspora friends can suggest, once again, in my time or anyone else’s time, to make a kind of Little Indonesia. But what is needed? Is it enough or fair to just build one business and then call it Little Indonesia? There has to be other support, right?
For example, Chinatown in CBD itself, it’s already very even they themselves – like, for example, Vietnam, they have Footscray, they have what else, Springvale, not formally Vietnamese, but they have already gathered and they are already quite active. Hopefully there will be something like that, not just concentrated on restaurants once again, but also culture, also other businesses. Garments? Food? Other things that are characteristic to us in that it can be rightfully called, Little Indonesia.
A question of diasporic social cohesion and why Melbourne stands out (29:47)
BILLY: Since you mentioned how the Indonesian diaspora is spread out, not concentrated in one place. There are pros and cons, too. And what I want to address is Indonesia’s diaspora in Melbourne is very diverse. I mean, it’s not just diverse in terms of location, but there are students, academics, entrepreneurs, immigrants, first generation, even second generation whose parents have been here for years, have families here, and have become locals. So from there, we can see that it is a very diverse group of diaspora. In your opinion, is there a gap or disconnect between these groups of people? Is there a need to rekindle the relationship between the Indonesian diaspora in Melbourne?
KUNCORO: This requires a kind of special observation. In general, I don’t see such a situation, but I might be wrong. Maybe I’m wrong because my observation is not detailed. On certain matters, I’m grateful when one association – whether it be students, ethnicities, etc. – that host events. But also when they invite other groups because that forms a bridge.
For example, Alun-Alun, was that PPIA Victoria’s? Alun-Alun, I salute you very much because Alun-Alun invites all associations. In the event, there they show gamelan from Bendigo, angklung from KJRI. They also invite restaurants to set up stalls there. Then there was also the Jawa Waton Muni Orchestra there. That’s one of the ways to still be able to connect between these associations. Festival Indonesia, which is held in September-October, it’s also like that, to give an opportunity everyone to perform there too. These are avenues.
So I’m optimistic, even if my understanding may not be entirely accurate. There is no situation that – well it’s best for detail you should look at it more. But there are some that need to be regenerated in this context. For example, Is it difficult to find, n an association that is religious for example, it is needed to encourage the younger generation to join.
For example in Muslim groups, we have YIMSA. But YIMSA is still standing alone, not in the Muslim centre, right? In the mosques, there is an older generation that has not entered there. Maybe it would be better if Yimsa is also active in Masjid, so that they can also not take things, but work together. In other vehicle associations, maybe there is also something like that. Like the last time I joined Maluku Bersaudara, also needs regeneration.
Yes, we still have to pay attention, but the bridges are already there. But I’m still very much optimistic, that we would be united. But that’s not about uniformity, because to make people uniform is not easy [nor encouraged]. What matters is that we are all aligned for the same goals.
BILLY: I had a chance to talk to YIMSA as one of the guests on an episode on the Perantau Podcast. With Eqi and Alfath. Yes, so recently I talked to the new leader of this year and the one from last year, the one since COVID. And they both felt, even though they often, especially now, more and more people want to collaborate, to work with, for example, IMCV at Westall, for example, with the Westall Mosque. But they also feel that among the groups, young Muslims who are students, they are generally concentrated in the city center, where there are educational places, where there are courses and everything.And on the other hand, other organisations cater more to older families, older generations who have settled here. So they also feel there is a gap there. So my question is, that’s just one aspect of the community, the aspect of the religion…
KUNCORO: Well before you go any further… For example, this is one of the showcases, showcase, what is the term, the situation there. Eqi, especially as a leader at YIMSA, can bring community support. Later, they can support each other. That will be, what is it called become their trademark together.
Oh, this is working together. So it’s already connected. Other concerns outside of religion, for example, there are a lot of people who I salute them, who organise events, but the events are not coordinated precisely in terms of time. They end up running together concurrently and clashing with one another instead of filling in empty slots.
Recently in the past year, thanks to Geo and friends, how can we map the schedule so that it can be filled? Detailed, for a year, at the end, there is everything. Not at a certain month, in a certain week, all of it gets in there. So that the spread of activities can be even. This is one example. So, whether it be in the context of religion, with catholicisim, I mean, there are young people in the club.
Even with Catholic associations. In the past, there was a club in Minang called Minang Sayio. There was also Maimbao. Maimbao is a youth club. Now, fortunately, it’s getting more popular. Because of the promotion. actually, they have the same proposal. I think that other groups are the same. PPI is a good example, because PPI is owned by each university, but also PPI Victoria, which also follows the, what is it, controlling, indirectly,already own it, here, now, because PPI Vectoria is also from several universities, right?
It can be a good example for synchronisation and even spreading. But once again, I feel grateful, Billy. Even, say, we fell short of these and didn’t do what we set out to do – compared to my previous jobs, Melbourne or Victorina is really amazing. Put bluntly, if my friends and I just sat back, without moving, the promotion is already on.
That’s what I call grateful.
BILLY: And why is that, do you think? Compared to all of the other places you’ve been, why is Melbourne’s Indonesian diaspora special?
KUNCORO: There are a few categories. First of all, it’s the numbers. No competition. If we compare it with when I was in Switzerland, Indonesian diaspora was around 2500, but it was concentrated in particular clusters. There are a lot in Geneva, or in Zurich, but it’s not evenly spread. When I was in Denmark, there were only 400 people that time. That’s what differentiates: there are a lot of people here.
The second element is of proximity to the motherland [Indonesia] It’s very easy to find modalities to promote. These ‘creations’ stem from easy access to Indonesia. Good accessibility. Students, for example, find it easy to invite Indonesian artists here [to perform]. It’s close, cheaper to as compared to flying them to Europe or elsewhere. So that might be why, so let’s enjoy it, Billy.
Proudest achievements and where we fall short (39:41)
BILLY: Now, we’re nearing the end of our conversation.
KUNCORO: Oh that was quick.
BILLY: Well, when you’re having fun! So now I want to get into… with your tenure. We had a brief chat before that as a government official, it’s usually a 3-year period. Now if we count back from when you started in 2021, there’s a large possibility that this year, 2024, will be your last.
KUNCORO: Hahaha! Well, let me tell you a little bit about this. Usually we count it as tenure. Our period of service. If you are a diplomat, you become a staff for 4 years. If you are a representative, either Consul General or Ambassador, it’s 3 years. But three years is a period of duty. When it comes to when to arrive and when to leave, it’s always based on the official paper. So if you haven’t received one, we’ll just stay here. Whether it’s an extension or, even I might be called upon back to Jakarta before the time of tenure, that can also happen, depending on the official things.
BILLY: Right, and yes let’s just assume that your tenure is with three years. I think these three years have been very eventful. From entering during the pandemic, through a new normal, a lot of influx, and a lot of, agreements, and signing papers between Australia and Indonesia as well. So in the last three years, what has been your biggest achievement as the Consul-General?
KUNCORO: When I read your question, it also includes things that I find difficult to define. Which one is the biggest deliverable? Because, of course, from our size, our strategy, we have achieved it. This is something we have implemented according to our annual plan, okay?
Even these three years, what have I achieved? But to mention, for example, ah, we hosted the President [of Indonesia], we are grateful that this is the peak. Even, historically, this was the first time that the President has ever come here [to Melbourne]. All this time there has been a bilateral visit to Canberra or Sydney. Even though the event was an ASEAN event, we were very happy to be visited by the President. The people were very enthusiastic to come and greet us. We were very happy. It was a lot of memories. On the other hand, what kind of work this is. There are several MoUs. There are MoUs between universities. Then the last MOU was the Bandung-Melbourne.
It’s hard for me to decide. Because everything is more to the size of if…, the community, already feels satisfied with the needs, the diaspora, then I will be happy.
But maybe I will look for look for an answer in that it is a process, Billy. The process that we have to do, that the biggest achievement is when, one, for example, the service in our consulate has improved. Good. We can meet what is needed by passport applicants, for example. With the digitisation that we do the telephone service that was previously considered, so why is it so difficult to use the telephone? Actually, we have digitized it. Thank you. But it’s always there. So, if it’s one person or two people, it’s normal. But we always try to improve it.
But is it an achievement or not? It’s up to the people.
We implemented an online registration system. So, people who are not registered must come here by themselves. That’s what I think is important. It’s very good and interesting. But of course the people will evaluate [whether its enough]. At a certain point, people came to me and said, Pak Konjen, maybe the payment system doesn’t need to be EFTPOS but rather a transfer system. Yes, we have considered that. But we also have other considerations. For example, if EFTPOS, people can sign it right there too. This is one example. It’s simple, but it’s needed. So with your question, this is our effort to improve and improve our services by digitalisation. That’s the achievement that makes me satisfied. But of course, there must be another process to be improved according to the needs.
Hopes for the future (45:08)
BILLY: Wow, yeah there really are a lot of ups and downs, but in this case it’s more on the services to our community. And in the future, what are your hopes for Melbourne’s Indonesian diaspora?
KUNCORO: Continue to create. Continue to engage with the Consulate. Show new initiatives that can fill the empty spaces that have been filled by the public. You can mention, Billy, various cultural activities, art activities, we already have. Culinary activities, we already have all. What else to look for?
I used to think that, what are the activities of my fellow students? If, for example, TemuLawak, I think, what activities, what clubs? When I came, for the first time, I watched directly, I was surprised, because this is like a professional. Annually, PPIA University of Melbourne’s The Forum, that always showcases heavyweight guests and topics become an inspiration is also a very good thing. Whether it is held once a year or once in two years, it will also come again. If it’s once a year, it’s easy to forget. But I also understand that there are a lot working, both students and people, who also have a lot of jobs. So, continue to be rich with new initiatives with what is already there, it should also be left to become more advanced, including the economy, which is in accordance with the digital era. We could probably push sports a bit more as well.
What else we haven’t realised, it’s not easy. Bily, if you come here often, then you must realize that this building is unique, right? This building was built in 1925. Next year is its centurion anniversary. Hopefully Pak Geo and the other staff could help commemorate the occasion with the new Consul-General.
This is one of the cultural heritages of the Port Phillip City council. This is our area, here is Port Phillip. But with this beautiful building, a unique building, I feel, once again in the process, I always say process, I can’t bring this building to be upgraded, to be renovated, to be upgraded. As well as our services. For public services at the Consulate, as well as public services to provide a room for movement, a room for community meetings. If you have been at what, the event room, the room is small, right? If it can be expanded, this building that is defended, the unique one, is the one that has been the one in the back, the one that makes it look like an apartment, that’s the most interesting part, isn’t it? And then, the open space, we still have it, that will be interesting. But this one, we can’t do, because the process is so long, other than the local permission that we have to go through, with the cultural heritage condition will be complicated, not impossible to be complicated. Then, of course, the budget is also required to observe, how many buildings are needed, whether it needs to be destroyed all at once or not, well we have, whether it should be halved to make the service bigger, more massive, or all of it should be made. The place is already good strategically, but we have to increase it [in size]. That’s one thing that’s, not a need but a dream, that hopefully KJRI Melbourne can become. Not just consulate services but to better act as a platform for diaspora.
BILLY: Yeah around here, we have a lot of other consulates. The American consulate, Singaporean, Malaysian.
KUNCORO: Exactly, though for the Malaysian consulate they moved to South Yarra.
BILLY: And if we were to compare, well not really compare, but based on what you’ve observed at the other consulates, how you think our community services fare?
KUNCORO: I often get this from my other Consul-General colleagues, “Your community has such festive activities. I see it everywhere.” It makes me proud when they say, “you have so many activities, yesterday I found out that this community has activities here and there.”
Yes, we do have a lot of activities. Now we just need to measure the ability in terms of KJRI facilitates and engages. Hopefully we are all healthy, so if we are invited, we will come. As much as possible. When it’s over, it’s okay.
What’s interesting, if in Melbourne, of course, we always suggest, Melbourne promotes multi-culturalism. When it’s time to start, you might also need to engage with other communities. That would be greatly appreciated. Giving them a little space would be very interesting. Hopefully, that will be achieved in the years to come and will continue to improve and become better.
Believe me, Melbourne has and will always be a memory of all the people who have been here.
BILLY: And the Indonesian diaspora in Melbourne cannot grow and develop as it has without the support of the government as well. And that’s why I’m here as a representative of the Indonesian diaspora, especially with the youth space, I also want to thank you, Pak Kuncoro, for the last three years, for helping with our aspirations and dreams.
KUNCORO: You’re welcome, Billy. You’re so formal, really. We also want to thank you, Billy, for hosting this podcast. If I say to my colleagues, whether in the middle of this year or whenever, my job, my love is almost complete in connection with my time as Consul General.
Experiencing where the pandemic that I told you earlier, experiencing when everything was opened, experiencing a visit to the president that’s very historical. In our context here, we even received a delegation from the DPR, the first committee, the first committee is a partner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who held a hearing for all the heads of representatives, but in Melbourne. Interesting, right? That’s what happened. Several times, we received committees from the second committee, the third committee also came here. In the next half year, maybe there will also be other guests. So really, we feel complete. No tire or weariness overtakes us.
So again, I feel grateful, for everything.I hope when the time comes, we can collaborate again, that’s my message. Stay healthy, that’s all.
BILLY: Thanks for joining us on another episode of The Perantau Podcast. If you like what you hear, give the podcast a follow and check out the website.
The Perantau Podcast is always looking for new stories to tell and people to meet. So, if you have a story worth telling, don’t be shy. Reach out on Instagram, LinkedIn, email, or wherever else you may find The Perantau Podcast. Until then, thank you, and see you soon.
The Perantau 