Communication Style Figure of Hajj Agus Salim in Determining

Effective Strategy to Achieve Diplomacy Goals

Yulis Sulistiana Dewi

, Dadang Sunendar

, Vismaia S. Damaianti

and Dadang Anshori

Indonesian lecturer at Fakultas Syari’ah dan hukum, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia

Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Jl. Dr. Setiabudhi No. 229, Bandung, Indonesia

yulisdewi@gmail.com

Keywords: Haji Agus Salim, Communication Style, Diplomat, Strategy, Negotiation.

Abstract: Communication is an important part of everyday human life. As social beings, intercommunication between

individuals, groups and individuals, as well as within and outside the country, is very necessary and requires

the ability to communicate. In communication, there is negotiation as the core of diplomacy. Diplomacy

emphasizes win-win solution which means win and agreement to both parties. This study as a documentary

study was conducted to analyse the literature, videos, and photographs of Haji Agus Salim as a master

diplomat with his skill in mastering more than nine languages, clever jokes, a keen intellectual, and

extensive knowledge so as to be steadily negotiating. The results revealed that the triumph of Haji Agus

Salims’ diplomacy is evident in the various strategies undertaken, both on the process until the achievement

of recognition. Especially regarding Indonesian independence which then recognised both as de facto and de

jure by world community, which all Indonesian citizen felt very proud of.

1 INTRODUCTION

Communication is a basic activity that people do in

many ways and activities. As social beings, humans

always need others (Ami, 1992). By communicating,

each person will understand and support one another

as John Peters (Wood, 2009) suggests that

communication in life will help people to understand

interpersonal, to perceive each individual, and to

influence each other's thoughts. The ideal

communication is directly face-to-face, but it can

also be indirectly using either verbal or nonverbal

intermediaries (Begley, 2010).

In fact, not everyone can easily communicate, let

alone what he faces is a lot of people. Vivian (2015)

explained that the communication would be different

if faced by thousands of people compared to talking

to a friend. There are many obstacles both from the

private, the other, and from the media that must be

used. In direct communication body language and

mimic will be seen clearly, different if in indirect

communication. There is media usage, such as

phone, email, or mail. Apart from the advantages

and disadvantages of direct and indirect

communication, there is an influence of intonation

and body language when people communicate

verbally and the use of punctuation in written

communication. Intonation, body language, and

punctuation make one's words meaningful. Both

spoken and written have tone pressures that will give

rise to distinctive features and can be interpreted

differently or equally by the other person. This is

what is called communication style. Everyone who

speaks will have different styles with each other.

Liliweri (2011) explains that, in fact, each person

will combine several communication styles even

though there are one or two dominant styles in him.

This communication style will be used to

determine the right strategy by everyone in various

events. However, many who have not been able to

practice the proper style of communication in

everyday life so that emerges a misunderstanding

that triggered the conflict. One real example

occurred in college. Students are less able to

communicate the message well so that many

misunderstandings occur, both among the students

themselves, with the lecturers, and the campus. Of

course this is very harmful and unpleasant for both

parties and hinder the achievement of learning

objectives.

On the other hand, if appropriate, communication

styles will benefit because the core of

communication is the element of negotiation and

808

Dewi, Y., Sunendar, D., Damaianti, V. and Anshori, D.

Communication Style Figure of Hajj Agus Salim in Determining Effective Strategy to Achieve Diplomacy Goals.

DOI: 10.5220/0007175508080812

In Proceedings of the Tenth Conference on Applied Linguistics and the Second English Language Teaching and Technology Conference in collaboration with the First International Conference

on Language, Literature, Culture, and Education (CONAPLIN and ICOLLITE 2017) - Literacy, Culture, and Technology in Language Pedagogy and Use, pages 808-812

ISBN: 978-989-758-332-2

negotiation is the art and practice of diplomacy.

Djelantik (2015) insists that diplomacy requires both

parties to the conflict to win and an agreement

between them. But the facts in diplomacy can be a

mistake in negotiations because (1) are unaware of

the situation, (2) misunderstanding the process, and

(3) lacking negotiation skills. One of the nation's

leaders who have the best communication style is

Haji Agus Salim. In a book written by the Warning

Committee (1996) it is explained that his ability to

master more than nine languages, extensive

experience, the ability to joke is a valuable asset

from Haji Agus Salim. With a flexible

communication style, humorous, assertive, Haji

Agus Salim is known as a scholar, expert foreign

languages, and a great debater. One of the most

phenomenal of his services, is able to negotiate with

the Dutch, diplomacy with PM Nokhrashi Pasha

from Egypt and other Arab countries so that

Indonesia's independence is recognized de facto and

de jure.

Seeing the various skills and expertise in

diplomacy, came the thought to gather the important

knowledge of the various diplomatic events

conducted by Haji Agus Salim. This important

knowledge will contribute knowledge to students in

the science and practice of speaking skills, both

within academia and general public.

2 METHODOLOGY

Qualitative approach used in this research with

descriptive analysis. According to Sukmadinata

(2011), qualitative descriptive research is aimed to

describe and describe the existing phenomena, both

natural and human engineering, which concern more

about the characteristics, quality, and

interrelationship between the activities.

In addition, descriptive research does not provide

treatment, manipulation, or alteration to the

variables studied, but rather describes a condition as

it is. The only treatment given is only the research

itself, which is done through collecting techniques

with documentary studies that collect documents and

data needed in the research problem and studied

intensely so as to support and increase the

confidence and proof of an event. This

documentation is in the form of literature, video, and

photographs.

Qualitative descriptive research is a series of

activities to obtain data that is what it is without any

in certain conditions, the result is more emphasis on

meaning.

3 RESULTS

The research findings generated in needs analysis

serve as the basis for collecting, understanding, and

assessing data as a form of support to improve the

quality of learning and the quality of learners.

Comprehensively, this research is part of a

strategic step in achieving the quality and quality of

education by optimizing the ability of students to

skilled in Indonesian language, namely the skills of

speaking so as to apply it on campus or outside

campus. Documentation studies conducted in this

study are in accordance with the results of studies of

literatures, videos, and photographs obtained from

reliable sources. The following is presented research

data relating to the communication style of Haji

Agus Salim in determining the effective strategy to

reach the goal of diplomacy.

3.1 Haji Agus Salim in Political,

Organizational, and Government

Activities

Haji Agus Salim's data is quoted from Tempo

Magazine, Issue 12-18 August 2013, ISSN: 0126-

4273, among others:

 1905-1911 works at the Dutch Consulate in

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as well as deepening

Islam and Hajj;

 1012-1915 founded the private Hollandsch-

Inlandsche School (HIS) in Koto Gadang;

 1915 became the Central Executive of the

Central Sarekat Islam;

 1917 became Neratja Daily reporter for a year,

worked at Balai Pustaka until 1919, then

became editor of Bataviaasch Nieuwsblas;

 1921-1924 became a member of the

Volksraad (People's Council) as a

representative of the Sarekat Islam;

 1927 with H.O.S. Tjokroaminoto published

the Fadjar Asia daily, then headed the Mustika

daily in Yogyakarta in 1931-1932;

 1933 became Chairman of the Board of the

Indonesian Sarekat Islam Party, but came out

three years later and founded the Alert Party;

 1940-1945 Disabled from politics and

charcoal trade;

 1945 becomes a member of the Indonesian

Agency for the Preparation of Indonesian

Independence;

 1945-1946 became a member of the Supreme

Advisory Council of the Republic of

Indonesia. After that, he became a foreign

minister several times;

Communication Style Figure of Hajj Agus Salim in Determining Effective Strategy to Achieve Diplomacy Goals

809

 April 4, 1947 Chairman of diplomatic

missions to the Middle East and attending the

United Nations Security Council meeting;

 19 December 1948 Dutch captured him along

with Sukarno and Hatta, exiled them to

Berastagi, Parapat, Bangka and just returned

to the capital of Yogyakarta on July 6, 1949;

 January 17, 1953 became a guest lecturer of

Islamic religion at Cornell University, Ithaca,

and attended the Islamic Symposiums at

Princeton University. Back to Indonesia on 26

November 1953;

 4 November 1954 Agus Salim dies at 4 pm at

Jakarta hospital after a few days of sickness.

The next day he was burried in Kalibata Hero

Cemetery, Jakarta;

 December 27, 1961 Haji Agus Salim is

designated as a Hero of Independence.

3.2 Haji Agus Salim in Various

Negotiations

The first international de jure recognition by Egypt

over the sovereignty of Indonesia and then backed

by the Arab countries (Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Saudi

Arabia and Yemen) respectively to the proclamation

of Indonesian Independence August 17, 1945

evidence of the cold hand of Haji Agus Salim.

Furthermore, Haji Agus Salim appeared confident

by clenched his hands on the UN Security Council

stage (Tempo, 2013).

According to Agung (1983), when the Dutch

conducted a military offensive, Indonesia politically

rose to its rank. The Arab League sent its special

envoy to Jogja at the beginning of February 1947. It

was responded intelligently by Indonesia in various

state visits with delegations under the leadership of

Haji Agus salim to Cairo, Egypt, Damascus (Syria),

Baghdad. Haji Agus Salim, moved quickly and

intelligently by looking at the situation when the

Dutch conducted Military Aggression 1, made

various state visits so that the Saudi Arabian

Government initially hesitantly became steadfast to

recognize de jure RI.

Salim was instrumental in various negotiations.

Its role, both in the Renville agreement and the

Linggarjati Agreement, is very meaningful in the

negotiation settlement, although it is not considered

official (Santosa, 2009).

3.3 The ability of Haji Agus Salim

In a book compiled by the Warning Committee

(1996) Haji Agus Salim mastered about a dozen

languages, including Dutch, English, German,

French, Arabic, and a little Japanese and Turkish.

On page 137, Haji Agus Salim in official friendship

visits supporting Indonesia. Pak Salim has three

lectures in different languages, French at the Royal

Geographic Institute, English in the Hall of Fouad I

University (Cairo University now) and Arabic in the

Union Building of Journalists of Egypt).

Prof. Schermerhon, the Dutch representative in

the Linggarjati Negotiations has his own testimony

of Haji Agus Salim written in his diary, Monday

night, October 14, 1946, 21.15 pm, as a very

intelligent person, a genius in language, speaks and

writes perfectly in nine languages (Santosa, 2009).

In addition, in Merdeka (2013) Britain and France

praised his English and French proficiency when

Agus Salim attended the International Labour

Conference in Geneva which ousted him as an

adviser to the Dutch labour delegation.

3.4 Effective Strategy of Haji Agus

Salim in Diplomacy

In the history of Indonesia, Haji Agus Salim is

remembered as an Islamic thinker, movement figure,

and as "Grand Old Man of the Republic" for his role

in the history of the independence revolution (1945-

1949) (Suradi, 2014). In addition Pak Salim is also

considered not only a master diplomat, but also the

first Indonesian diplomat (Salam, 1964).

According to Zulkifli (2013), Haji Agus Salim’s

magnificent diplomacy ability is also can be

measured from his negotiating skills with the Dutch

and Egyptians so that Egypt recognizes the de jure

of Indonesian independence. The next strategy, Haji

Agus Salim made a visit to the Arab countries as a

reply visit mission. Done with diplomatic missions

to the Arab countries, Haji Agus Salim's journey

continues to the United States, as full representative

of Indonesia to talk to the UN Security Council if

the Indonesian dispute with the Dutch is discussed.

Success is gained by the diplomatic skill of Haji

Agus Salim, Sutan Sjahrir, Charles Tambu,

Soedjatmoko, and Suminto Djojohadikusumo.

Haji Agus Salim is known as a diplomat, a lively

debater, and sharp in criticism. Flexibility in

communicating, arguing, parrying when attacked by

the other person, immediately answered if

interrupted, and able to make his opponent as a

laughing stock. Straightforward speech is able to

CONAPLIN and ICOLLITE 2017 - Tenth Conference on Applied Linguistics and the Second English Language Teaching and Technology

Conference in collaboration with the First International Conference on Language, Literature, Culture, and Education

810

provoke other countries to hold special

conversations, such as with England. Even the Dutch

recognize Haji Agus Salim as a native-born native

diplomat (Santosa, 2009).

4 DISCUSSION

4.1 Communication Style of Hajj Agus

Salim in Diplomation

A diplomat like Haji Agus Salim possesses the most

powerful interpersonal style of communication skills

to change one's attitudes, opinions, and behaviours

for several reasons:

 Haji Agus Salim as a communicator who can

immediately know the frame of reference

communicant fully and intact;

 Intellectual ability in dialogical

communication in which the communicator

can directly communicate his style;

 Communication face to face each other, Haji

Agus Salim witnessed facial expressions,

attitudes, gestures as a nonverbal language in

the process of communication took place.

The nation's leaders use mouth and tongue to

fight for the fate of the people, the nation, and the

state of Indonesia. Haji Agus Salim is well-deserved

as a nation figure with his communication style

striving to prepare for Indonesian independence,

forming the basis of the state, active in the

independence of Indonesia, and maintaining

independence. He realized that Indonesia was free

from colonialism to recognize the whole country de

facto and de jure. People of this nation as a very

genius in communicating and has a lot of experience

capable of convincing other countries to recognize

the independence of Indonesia.

Haji Agus Salim is a communications diplomacy

expert from an early age. Its competency is so

remarkable that he is famous as the Father of

Indonesian Diplomacy. In addition Haji Agus

Salim's nickname was "The Grand Old Man Haji

Agus Salim" and as "Father of Nations for the

People of the Nation".

4.2 Effective Strategy Used by Hajj

Agus Salim Nationals to Achieve

Diplomacy Goals

Diplomats met intensive face-to-face to work

together by expressing one's preferences and

competition to avoid misunderstanding. When

negotiating, what is spoken and emotional cues from

diplomats is taken seriously. The choice of words,

the tone of speech, and the movement of one's body

and hands carries emotional information that reflects

how one perceives the situation (Wong, 2016).

The role and function of diplomats is one of the

factors that determine the success of a diplomatic

mission, therefore there are various conditions that

must be owned by a diplomat. Roy (1991) revealed

that there are three main requirements that must be

owned by a diplomat, namely: (1) Communication.

A diplomat must be able to communicate well in

carrying out diplomatic missions, especially

mastering the language aspects because language is

the most important communication tool in the

international order. (2) Personality and intellectual

level. A diplomat is required to have a personality

that is disciplined and responsible in carrying out

diplomatic missions, because the attitude and appeal

of a diplomat can affect the judgment of others

against him. This is an important requirement

because diplomats are regarded as eyes, ears, and

mouths to represent their country in dealing with

other countries. (3) Negotiations. This is the most

important requirement, because a diplomat must be

able to sell his country's foreign policy objectives

and thus be required to have good negotiating skills

in order to achieve the interests of his country (Roy,

1991). Negotiation is an attempt to reach an

agreement with the opposite of the negotiation so

that the goal is reached.

Haji Agus Salim as an effective communicator

that has credibility and attractiveness. Credibility is

determined by the degree of skill, experience, skill,

honesty and position. This credibility increases the

power of opinion change, attitudes, and actions of

the communicant. (Shoelhi, 2011) The credibility of

Haji Agus Salim is determined by the expertise of

communicative language and the art of speaking.

Experience diplomacy and live abroad, interesting

speaking and gesture, honesty proved that he is also

a scholar so that the title of Kiayi Haji Agus Salim,

and served as Chairman of the Party of Sarikat Islam

and by government as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The attraction is determined by the degree of

ability to give beliefs in harmony with the ratio and

the way of thinking (Shoelhi, 2011). A person with a

capability on the level of Haji Agus Salim's ability to

give beliefs in harmony with the ratio and the way of

thinking of the communicant. The appeal of Haji

Agus Salim is able to motivate communicant to pay

attention and follow what communicator said in the

effort of opinion formation and behaviour change.

Communication Style Figure of Hajj Agus Salim in Determining Effective Strategy to Achieve Diplomacy Goals

811

This is evident in the leadership of the countries of

Egypt, India, and Arab countries recognize the

independence of Indonesia.

Effective communication according to Shoelhi

(2011) is communications made with his

communicant’s language. Haji Agus Salim is able to

speak Dutch, English, German, French, Arabic,

Japanese and Turkish. If you look at Haji Agus

Salim mastered 3 of the 5 official languages of the

United Nations namely English, French, Arabic,

German, and Russian.

Good language mastery is not sufficiently

demonstrated by the mastery of grammar, its rules,

the mastery of vocabulary and oral spoken tongue,

but also the knowledge of language and language

(Shoelhi, 2011). Language is a system of symbols of

arbitrary sound (the absence of a relationship

between the symbol of sound and the object)

produced by the human speech utensil and used by

the communications, cooperation and self-

identification society. In communicating using the

language in its delivery. Language has several

functions, including as a tool to communicate with

fellow human beings, tools to work with fellow

human beings, tools to identify themselves.

Basically, language as a communication tool is not

only verbally, but also uses hand sign language or

other body parts.

5 CONCLUSIONS

Haji Agus Salim known as The Grand old Man has

the ability of the most powerful interpersonal

communication style to change attitude, opinion, and

behaviour so that people can be influenced as proven

by his achievement to get the recognition of

Indonesian independence both de facto and de jure.

The ability of diplomacy is demonstrated by the

effective strategy of Haji Agus Salim figure who has

good communication skills, excellent personality,

and high intellectual level, also magnificent

negotiating skill. This is supported by his ability to

convince opponents with expertise, experience,

skills, honesty and position, and also his mastery of

more than nine languages as a provision to negotiate.

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Conference in collaboration with the First International Conference on Language, Literature, Culture, and Education

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