Berita Harian documentary marks two decades since tsunami hit Aceh

SINGAPORE – Two decades after a tsunami devastated the Indonesian province of Aceh, survivors told Singapore’s Malay-language daily Berita Harian (BH) how they rebuilt their lives in a documentary the media outlet produced.

On Jan 2, BH held a special screening of the documentary to commemorate the

20th anniversary of the disaster.

Gelombang Perubahan: Aceh 20 Tahun Selepas Dibadai Tsunami (Waves Of Change: Aceh 20 Years After The Tsunami) is a 22-minute work that also captures the experiences of officials, first responders and aid workers involved in rescue, recovery and humanitarian work. It comes with English subtitles.

Held at the Project Studio in Wisma Geylang Serai, the screening was attended by some 100 guests. They included the guest of honour, Dr Maliki Osman, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Education; Mr Suryo Pratomo, Indonesia’s Ambassador to Singapore; and other dignitaries from the Indonesian Embassy.

The event, co-organised with humanitarian organisation Mercy Relief, also featured a fireside chat.

In his speech, Dr Maliki said the documentary is not just a story of tragedy, but also a celebration of resilience, transformation and the indomitable human spirit.

“I last visited Aceh in July 2023 and was amazed by the progress that the region has made. I will never forget my visit to the Aceh Tsunami Museum, which commemorates not only the lives lost in the disaster, but (also) the incredible resilience of the Acehnese survivors,” he said.

“I also had the opportunity to visit the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, which survived the tsunami with minor damages. These landmarks are testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of tragedy and disaster, and the determination to rebuild for a brighter tomorrow. I am confident that Aceh has a bright future, with immense potential in exciting, emerging sectors.”

Mr Suryo Pratomo paid tribute to Singapore and Mercy Relief for the assistance they gave to Aceh in the aftermath of the 2004 tragedy.

He said Singapore played an important role in a global response to the disaster – contributing to immediate relief as well as long-term reconstruction efforts.

“Singapore’s quick mobilisation of aid, as well as its collaboration with international organisations, was critical in assisting Aceh’s recovery,” he said.

Mr Suryo Pratomo added: “Today, Aceh has been transformed. While the memories of loss remain, the region has rebuilt its infrastructure, communities and lives. Aceh now stands as a symbol of resilience, showing that, through unity and determination, recovery is possible even after the most devastating disasters. The documentary... tells these stories in a way that words alone cannot.”

BH editor Nazry Mokhtar said the documentary is an opportunity to showcase the newsroom’s new capabilities in content creation.

He said: “As the editor of Berita Harian, I am proud of the ability of my talented young team to produce a creative and impactful video. For us, this project represents more than just a commemoration – it represents a milestone in the evolution of how we tell stories.

“Over the past two years, we have undergone a major transformation and shifted our focus in content creation. We are now committed to not just producing print content, but also creative content in digital format like videos and podcasts.” BERITA HARIAN