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Miss Indonesia's first plan is to learn Indonesian
Tue, 06/09/2009 10:47 AM | People
Reuters/Supri
JAKARTA: The newly crowned Miss Indonesia Kerenina Sunny Halim might have amazed people with her fluent English, but surprised just as many with her poor ability to speak Indonesian.
On the final night of the Miss Indonesia pageant last week, Kerenina needed a translator to help her understand the judges' questions. Kerenina admits this is a weakness but has promised to improve her Indonesian language skills.
"It's been hard for me *to speak Indonesian*, because I use English every day," says the half-American woman. "But I will learn. Indonesian is an easy language, as long as we're willing to learn."
Kerenina's brother, actor Steve Emmanuel (now Yusuf Iman), reveals that his sister was not exposed to Indonesian as a child because she didn't go to a formal school. "She was with homeschooling," Steve says. "She barely uses Indonesian at home, and doesn't go out often *so she can't practice Indonesian*."
The 23-year-old has also promised to learn more about the local culture in preparing for this year's Miss World competition in Johannesburg, South Africa. "Currently, I don't know much *about Indonesian culture*," says the girlfriend of actor Nino Fernandez. "But within six months, I'm going to learn about it all, because I represent Indonesia at the international level."
Kerenina, who holds six diplomas - in public relations; sales and marketing; primary school teaching; economics; performing arts; and music and art - won the competition over the two other finalists, Viviane (from Bali) and Melati Putri Kusuma Dewi (West Sulawesi). Kerenina impressed the judges with her fluent English, and was considered to meet the contest's criteria of MISS (Manners, Impressive, Smart and Social). - JP
What's On
- Festival of India
10/29/2009 12/15/2009 Balai Kartini & Umar Ismail Hall, Jakarta
- Imagemakers of the Future: Photography exhibition
10/10/2009 11/30/2009 Alila Ubud Desa Melinggih Kelod Payangan, Gianyar 80572, Bali - Timeless Change
11/05/2009 12/07/2009 Ganesha Gallery, Four Seasons Hotel Jimbaran, Bali. - Choreography of Colours; Sardono W. Kusumo's first solo painting exhibition
11/12/2009 12/12/2009 vivi yip art room Annexe Ciputra World Marketing Gallery Jalan Prof Satrio Kav 11, Casablanca
X-men (not verified) — Wed, 06/10/2009 - 8:46am
Yeah, I think I also agree with Stan's comment, it's not make sense that the judges chosen a Miss Indonesia's winner without knowing about Indonesian culture especially can't speak well Indonesia language as well. So, how could this Miss Indonesia's representative represent our beloved country to tell to the international community about Indonesian. And it's impossible to learn about Indonesian language, Indonesian culture within 6 months, even though you have a strong motivation to do it, but I'm a little bit afraid she can't realize it, why????? Because she need Indonesian language to read some books that written in Indonesian language last but not least please read carefully Miss Indonesia Kerenina Sunny Halim's statement "Currently, I don't know much *about Indonesian culture*," says the girlfriend of actor Nino Fernandez. " so let Indonesia's people to be a judges.
Cheers
X-men
clicheist (not verified) — Wed, 06/10/2009 - 8:15am
*stunned
Ntos (not verified) — Wed, 06/10/2009 - 8:12am
is miss indonesia is an indonesian? a little confuse for me. how can she present indonesia in international contest? can she learn about indonesia in a short time before go to miss world contest? just say that she meet the contest's criteria, but how the judge not consider the contestant background? oh my God. Indonesia will lose identity if we still submit the contestant like her to miss world and miss universe. oh.... so stupid. even current miss universe can not speak english well. but, of course, she speak her mother tongue very well.
Olan (not verified) — Wed, 06/10/2009 - 8:12am
@stan, pls forgive us for being Indonesians...
Winnie (not verified) — Wed, 06/10/2009 - 6:38am
What a joke !! Representing the country but doesn"t know much about the culture and the language !!
Ester (not verified) — Wed, 06/10/2009 - 4:24am
WHAT A JOKE!!!
This was the most stupid decision has ever been made in "Miss Indonesia" contest history! Miss Indonesian who CAN NOT speak INDONESIAN and KNOW A LITTLE OF INDONESIAN CULTURE! I wonder who were those idiot judges?
PB (not verified) — Wed, 06/10/2009 - 3:58am
As an Indonesian woman, I find the chosen Miss Indonesia 2009 who can not speak Indonesian language is insulting and distrubing. I wonder why this woman keeps her Indonesian passport. What kind of jury pannel this contest had! How come Indonesia send a woman to represent the country and nation but hardly speaking the national language to which nation she has to represent. Unbelieveable and embarassing! Please eliminate Miss Indonesia pageant and cancel this beautiful lady's crown. None of its recent winners have qualities to represent Indonesian women and people. Importantly, none of them ever won internationally anyway. Trust me, Indonesia tourism won't die just because we don't have Miss Indonesia. This year's winner is a proof of how stupid this pageant becomes!
Knina (not verified) — Wed, 06/10/2009 - 2:13am
this is totally absurd!
indonesia still have many more original, beautiful, smart, unique women to be a better representative.
what a sad story,,,
David K. — Tue, 06/09/2009 - 11:42pm
Wait a second, the representative of Indonesia cannot speak Indonesian? On top of having limited or no understanding of the Indonesian language she has no undersatnding of our culture and heritage yet would represent Indonesia in the Miss Universe pageant. Okay I understand that pretty much all you have to say in the pageant is, "I want world peace, and I will spend my time as Miss Universe spreading love, ending world hunger, and while developing a new cheap renewable energy source." While looking good in a bikini. But come on, this is such a slap in the face of Indonesia.
Sad that from the entire couple hundred million women that actually are Indonesian who can speak the language, and know about our vibrant history, heritage and culture the winner is someone actually seen as Half American and not Half Indonesian. Who thinks our language is pretty easy (so insinuating it lacks complexity) as comparable to what? English? There is a reason the English language is the international "trade" language, in that it's the easiest to use.
This is actually an insult to Indonesian women and I'm suprised at the outcome, although beautiful and having six diplomas is impressive, allowing her to represent our nation is a hilarious.
This reminds me of the many Indonesian kids I would meet while living abroad, ashamed at being Indonesian, refusing to acknowledge thier blood, and would insult me when I would laugh in thier faces and call them scum.
What does this say about Indonesian society (well the affluent division at least)? That it's okay to forget where we came from, it's okay to not be able to speak our language. The Western Culture is much better and deserves more of your attention. This is a snub at our heritage making it seem "kampungan" to speak Indonesian, or know the language.
Have I impressed the so called judges with my fluent English?
Jos (not verified) — Tue, 06/09/2009 - 9:21pm
It's not like Miss America can speak her own language either haha. Anyways, I'm sure Miss Indonesia will learn a lot about Indonesian culture as she stated and will represent her country well.