Nationality: Indonesia
Faculty & Year of Study: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Year 2
Undergraduate: Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia
"Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard may be the world's best, but in Asia and studies of Asian people, NUS is the King."
Why Did You Choose To Pursue A PhD?
I would like to be a public intellectual or/and lecturer. I have published 10 best-selling books to date and a number of essays for various media. But to further enhance my knowledge and gain credibility in what I convey I have to pursue a PhD.
Why Did You Choose To Pursue Your PhD At NUS?
In general, NUS is the number one university in ASIA, AND one of the world’s best universities, according any ranking organization, be it Times Higher Education or QS. In Social Sciences, especially in Southeast Asian studies or studies of particular country in Southeast Asia, I believe NUS is the world’s best.
Can you tell us briefly about your research topic?
My thesis examines how and why massive censorship, especially against cultural expression, is still happening in Indonesia even as the world’s biggest Muslim majority nation has successfully transformed itself into a democratic country, and even after it has managed to get rid of Suharto and his New Order Regime since 20 years ago. This thesis questions if the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Indonesia directly or indirectly causes the rise of censorship, and if such rise of censorship further strengthens fundamentalism’s grip on the nation.
Why did you choose to do this research for your PhD?
First of all, there have been neither serious studies on the rise of censorship in the so-called democratic nation nor comprehensive studies on censorship in Indonesia, the world’s third largest democracy and the country with world’s largest Muslim population. Secondly, while many have agreed that Indonesia is an example of a country in which Islam and democracy can go hand in hand, then the rise of censorship in Southeast Asia’s largest economy could prove otherwise.
How does PhD graduate education compare with your undergraduate experience?
Whether it’s the facilities, such as library and internet, academic staff, and curriculum, the NUS system in PhD program is the best, much better than what I have experienced in taking my bachelor or Masters in my previous universities. There is not even a comparison.
What do you like most about graduate school?
The lectures and professors. They really know what they are saying and doing. And of course, the facilities.
Any highlights you'd like to share with us about your PhD life?
After getting my Master’s degree in 2014, I just know what I want to do. As an already recognized novelist and essayist in my home country, I would like to complete myself to become a fiction writer and high-quality academic. But to further my study will be very expensive. Fortunately, with my credentials as a writer and my networking, I was offered a scholarship with NUS to pursue the PhD program with the Department of the Malay Studies in 2019.
Can you tell us something fun about your PhD journey in NUS?
The fun part is that I have a number of invitation to speak in several seminar and festival in Singapore since I arrive last year.
Any advice for someone who's considering a PhD in NUS?
Be unique in your theme for your PhD proposal but the output should be universally useful for people and the world.
Any other words of wisdom to share?
Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard may be the world’s best, but in Asia and studies of Asian people, NUS is the King.