Nadiem Asks Police To Investigate Fire Cases At The National Museum

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Coming to the National Museum, Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Mendikbudristek) Nadiem Makarim asked the police to investigate the fire case that occurred on Saturday night, September 16.

"Earlier we also spoke with the police to immediately investigate what the reasons and causes of the fire were," said Nadiem, early Sunday, September 17. In addition to appreciating firefighters, Nadiem believes that the fire could have spread more widely to other buildings and scorched other historical items. But fortunately the fire was extinguished immediately. Nadiem is also grateful that there were no reports of casualties or injuries in this incident.

"Most importantly, Alhamdulillah, there have been no reported injuries or fatalities so far," he said. Nadiem also said that the rescue of artifacts and historical objects is a top priority at this time.

"Our main priority now is to save as many artifacts or historical objects in the rooms affected by this fire," he said.

He added that his party had coordinated to create a joint team of museums and museum experts who would cooperate with the police and firefighters to ensure the recording of the damage to these historical objects. Previously, Head of the Fire and Rescue Agency (Kasudin Gulkarmat) Asril Rizal said the electrical short circuit that occurred in the National Museum renovation project was the trigger for the fire, precisely in Block A Building which became the exhibition room for the museum collection. "The electrical short circuit behind the museum exhibition is thought to have come from the driver's side area that is carrying out the repair of the Block C building," said Asril. Meanwhile, the Head of the Central Jakarta Resort Police Kombes Pol Komarudin stated that officers from the Central Jakarta Fire and Rescue Service (Sudin Gulkarmat) succeeded in extinguishing the fire that occurred quickly. "The fire occurred in four rooms in the A Building National Museum and at 22.00 WIB the fire was declared extinguished," Komarudin said at the National Museum. Komarudin added that officers had started cooling since 22.15 WIB.