Preserving Lifelong Pramuka Spirit

KOMPAS/ESTER LINCE NAPITUPULU

Ahmad Rusdi

The scouting spirit has continued to permeate the life of Ahmad Rusdi, 63. From childhood to his advanced years, he has remained a Pramuka (Boy Scout) activist. In 2018, he was named chairman of the Asia-Pacific Scout Region (APSR) Committee and a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM).

Ahmad Rusdi has become the second activist of Pramuka Indonesia (Indonesian Scout Movement) to assume the chairmanship of the APSR Committee. Previously, the post was held by Maj. Gen. (ret.) Dr. Aziz Saleh between 1971 and 1974.

Rusdi was elected and approved by acclamation by representatives from 29 member countries of the APSR as committee chairman for the 2018-2021 period, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic the term is extended to 2022.

“In the history of election of the APSR committee chairman, even in the WOSM, I was the first to be unanimously named without voting because of the absence of other candidates. I can bring the good name of Pramuka Indonesia to the international arena,” said Rusdi in Jakarta on Thursday (4/2/2021).

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Rusdi pursued a long career until his APSR committee chairmanship. Previously he had been an APSR committee member since 2015. After three years, he braced himself to run for APSR committee chairman in 2018. At the time, Rusdi was Indonesia’s Ambassador to Thailand.

The Asia-Pacific Scout Organization based in Manila, the Philippines, is part of the WOSM. Besides the Asia-Pacific region there are European, African, Middle Eastern, EuroAsian and InterAmerican regions.

I can bring the good name of Pramuka Indonesia to the international arena.

At present 171 countries are affiliated with the WOSM with scout members totaling around 54 million. Most of the world’s scout members are in Southeast Asia and the largest number comes from Indonesia.

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Ahmad Rusdi

Rusdi is quite familiar to Asia-Pacific and world scout executives because he voluntarily supports world and regional scout movement funding. Rusdi has become a life member of the Baden Powell Fellowship for his contribution of some funds. He is also a member of the Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Foundation and a life member of the Korea Scout Association.

Rusdi as a lifelong Pramuka activist said becoming a Pramuka member required one to be prepared to sacrifice materials, energy, time and thoughts. He frequently goes on journeys and undertakes programs in regional and world scout organizations at his own expense.

Ridiculed

Rusdi has been immersed in Pramuka values since childhood as a primary school student in Pekalongan, Central Java. He loves Pramuka activities because he has found the values of Dasa Darma Pramuka (ten services) and Tri Satya Pramuka (three acts of dedication) compatible with those handed down by his parents and which he embraces.

Unsurprisingly, he has long pledged to loyally devote himself to Pramuka movements wherever they are.

While always joining national and Asia-Pacific scout jamborees, he also attends Pramuka conferences and meetings, through which he has established friendships with fellow scout members from Indonesia and other countries.

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Rusdi’s choice to remain a Pramuka activist while in college was scorned by his fellow students. In their view, Pramuka activities were just meant for fun, mostly filled with tenting and marching.

In fact, the aim of Pramuka, according to Rusdi, is to educate people in order to have good character as the basis of state defense. Pramuka values imbue members with the spirit of leadership, the willingness to sacrifice and the attitude of devotion.

“When I was ridiculed, I challenged them to argue the shortcomings and benefits of Pramuka activity,” said Rusdi, who has had a diplomatic career.

KOMPAS/ESTER LINCE NAPITUPULU

Ahmad Rusdi

Rusdi affirmed that he implemented the Pramuka values in his life so that his career kept rising and he had been trusted by six presidents in connection with foreign relations.

When assigned as an envoy, Rusdi doesn’t hesitate to serve as a senior instructor if Indonesian students or schools are found in the relevant country. He has been assigned to Prague (Czech Republic), Islamabad (Pakistan) and London. When serving as Indonesian Ambassador to Greece, Rusdi realized his dream of joining the World Scout Jamboree for the first time in Sweden in 2011. As the ambassador to Thailand, he was also still actively involved in various scout organizational programs there.

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Even after retiring as a diplomat with the last post of envoy to Thailand, he has carried on his Pramuka activity. As of September 2020, three times a week he goes to the Pramuka Movement National Quarter by Pramuka official car.

He communicates with Pramuka leaders of Indonesia, the Asia-Pacific region and the world to coordinate the roles that can be played by scout members in the respective countries to help local governments and communities overcome the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and other disasters. He still has vital positions in Indonesian and regional scout organizations.

As an active scout leader in the world, Rusdi claimed to be given the privilege of enjoying accommodation facilities during the Asia-Pacific or World Scout Jamboree, but he preferred putting up his own tent along with the other participants from various countries.

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Rusdi even once chose to compensate for the hotel reservation fee worth US$500 because of his preference for camping.

“I don’t feel embarrassed, there’s no problem with taking a bath and eating together with other young and old members. I also enjoy hunting and exchanging Pramuka souvenirs, ranging from badges, pins to flags for my collection. For me, this is a True Pramuka,” stressed Rusdi.

Rusdi, who proves that Indonesian Pramuka members can display their performance regionally and globally, hopes for regeneration involving youths. He has co-formulated Guidelines for Pramuka Activity Abroad to make Indonesian Pramuka members active overseas.

“I’m ready to keep contributing, as long as I’m still healthy and capable,” he added.

Ahmad Rusdi

Born: Pekalongan, 2 August 1957

Education: First degree, International Relations, Padjadjaran University, Bandung

Awards, among others:

- International Friendship Award from Korea Scout Organization (2017)

- Taiwan Green Jade Lion Award from The General Association of Scout of China (2018)

- International Friendship Award from Scout Association of Thailand (2017)

Pramuka career: Asia-Pacific Scout Region Committee Chairman (2018-2022)

(This article was translated by Aris Prawira).