Indonesia is one of the members of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015, so does Malaysia. These two countries would need each other more and more. Additionally, they ought to understand not only different culture but also different Indonesia legal system. Thus, preparing those aspects, 18 students of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) visited Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) to learn system taught to students and how it is implemented in Indonesia.

The visit was followed by 15 undergraduate students and 3 magister students of Fakulti Undang-Undang (Faculty of Law) of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). It was welcomed by Director of International Program for Law and Sharia (IPOLS) UMY, Nasrullah, S.H., S.Ag., MCL, in a meeting room of Faculty of Law, UMY. It was conducted on Thursday (22/01) and the theme of the event was “Connecting Culture: Intra-Relation of Knowledge Programme 2015”.

On his remark, Nasrullah stated that the visit was essential to preparing AEC 2015. Besides opening economic market in ASEAN level, AEC would provide occasions for graduates of Law from various countries, either from Malaysia to Indonesia or from Indonesia to Malaysia. The graduates have opportunities to take part in ASEAN Economic Community.

Moreover, according to Nasrullah, the visit was important to enhance the understanding of law of both Malaysian students and FH UMY. Nasrullah explained that Malaysian students could utilize the chance to learn Indonesia legal system, and students of FH UMY could also learn Malaysian legal system through asking the Malaysian students.

“I notice that it is an important visit to comprehend law. It would be valuable for Malaysian to understand Indonesian legal system. Students are required to be more welcome to common law system,” he conveyed.

Furthermore, Nasrullah told that his party attempted to change wrong mindset of Malaysia toward Indonesia like the idea that Indonesia is dirty, blue-collar workers, and dangerous. The wrong mindset was the impact of mass media that wrote news of mistakes of Indonesians in Malaysia. Hence, his party was eager to raise Malaysian’s awareness that Indonesian is more advanced in a lot of areas.

Nasrullah added that Malaysians who had ever visited UMY realized that Indonesia had been encountered many advancements. He elucidated that Malaysians who had visited UMY must identify that UMY and Muhammadiyah are incredible because they could empower community independently in fields of education, health, and others.

“They recognize a lot of betterments. For instance, none of Muslim organizations in Malaysia could drive educational and health institution like Muhammadiyah does. In fact, Indonesian is more independent while Malaysian is accustomed to receiving aids for many aspects by the government. Therefore, when they acknowledge that Muhammadiyah could invite more than 170 universities, it is amazed them,” continued Nasrullah.

In addition, Drs. Martino, M.A., Ph.D., a lecturer of FH UMY, told that how law of human right in Indonesia is implemented. He provided an example that in Indonesia each person could do worship and shift their belief even though it is not allowed in Islam to change belief. Indeed, seeing the implementation in Indonesia, many Indonesians could shift their belief without any problem,” uttered the lecturer of law of Human Right.

Besides attending course of Indonesian legal system, students of Fakulti Undang-Undang UKM were also invited to see facilities and areas of UMY like visiting of laboratory of legal studies, Moot Court Room, Class of International Program and around the mosque of K.H. Ahmad Dahlan UMY.