Penang Reunion, The Committee
Siang itu di Penang, enam lelaki panitia Reuni SSEAYP 1989 Malaysia duduk mengelilingi meja merah dengan gaya seperti rapat darurat PBB versi kopi O panas. Wajah mereka serius, tapi bukan karena isu ASEAN—melainkan karena memikirkan satu hal penting: Ada yang masih ingat Jesty dari Singapura. Ia menghilang puluhan tahun dan tiba-tiba dia muncul kembali dengan wajah dan postur yang masih sama seperti tahun 1989? Sambil menunjuk ke arah kolam (entah kenapa selalu ada yang menunjuk), mereka sepakat bahwa pertanyaan itu bisa dijawab setelah minum kopi… minimal dua cangkir per orang.
Sebagai panitia, mereka merasa sangat profesional. Jadwal 3 hari 2 malam sudah disusun rapi—walau rapi di kepala masing-masing, bukan di satu dokumen yang sama. Ada yang yakin malam pertama acara budaya, yang lain bersikeras itu sesi karaoke lintas negara. Untungnya, semua sepakat bahwa peserta dari ASEAN dan Jepang harus senang.
Mereka lalu bernostalgia ke tahun 1989, saat ASEAN “baru” beranggotakan Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapura, Thailand, dan Filipina. Dulu masih muda, sekarang masih semangat—walau lutut kadang protes saat naik tangga hotel. Salah satu panitia dengan bangga berkata, “Dulu kita bahas persahabatan lintas negara, sekarang kita bahas tekanan darah lintas usia.” Semua tertawa, kecuali satu orang yang sibuk cari kacamata… yang ternyata sudah ada di kepalanya.
Kini, para alumni SSEAYP 1989 kembali berkumpul di Penang, membawa semangat lama dengan humor baru. Acaranya? Dijamin seru. Kalau pun ada yang meleset dari jadwal, itu bukan salah panitia—itu bagian dari “pengalaman budaya”. Dan seperti biasa, di akhir rapat mereka sepakat pada satu keputusan terpenting: reuni sukses, foto harus banyak, dan kopi tidak boleh habis.
IPY-89
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Penang Reunion, The Committee
That afternoon in Penang, six gentlemen from the SSEAYP 1989 Malaysia Reunion Committee sat around a red table, looking like they were holding an emergency UN meeting—hot coffee O version. Their faces were serious, but not because of ASEAN issues. It was something far more mysterious: does anyone still remember Jesty from Singapore? She disappeared for decades and suddenly reappeared with the same face and the same body posture as in 1989? While pointing toward the swimming pool (no one knows why someone is always pointing), they agreed that this mystery could only be solved after coffee… at least two cups per person.
As committee members, they felt extremely professional. The 3-day-2-night program was perfectly organized—well, perfectly organized in each person’s head, just not in a single shared document. One was absolutely sure the first night was a cultural performance, while another insisted it was an international karaoke session. Thankfully, everyone agreed on one thing: participants from ASEAN and Japan must be happy, no matter what actually happens.
They then slipped into nostalgia, back to 1989, when ASEAN “only” consisted of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. Back then they were young; now they were still enthusiastic—although their knees sometimes complained while climbing hotel stairs. One committee member proudly said, “Back then we talked about cross-border friendship. Now we talk about cross-generation blood pressure.” Everyone laughed, except one man who was busy looking for his glasses… which turned out to already be on his head.
Now, the SSEAYP 1989 alumni have gathered once again in Penang, bringing old spirit with brand-new humor. The event? Guaranteed to be fun. And if anything goes off schedule, it’s not the committee’s fault—it’s part of the “cultural experience.” As usual, the meeting ended with the most important decision of all: the reunion must be a success, photos must be plentiful, and the coffee must never run out.
IPY-89
