Government encourages serious documentation of Pencak Silat which has been recognized by UNESCO for 6 years

JAKARTA - Six years after being recognized by UNESCO as a World Intangible Cultural Heritage, the government insists that Pencak Silat should not stop at a symbolic status. The next important step is to conduct serious documentation so that this tradition remains alive and relevant.

The commitment was emphasized by the Ministry of Culture in the Tasyakur and Tafakur Retrospective 6 Years of Traditional Pencak Silat at the TMII Pencak Silat Training Center, Jakarta, Sunday, December 14. This event was held together with the Indonesian Traditional Pencak Silat Committee (KPSTI).

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon emphasized that UNESCO's recognition should be the starting point for strengthening the Pencak Silat ecosystem, not an annual ceremony. According to him, Pencak Silat serves as a character education based on culture as well as an instrument of Indonesian cultural diplomacy.

"Until October 2025, Indonesia has recorded 2,727 national Intangible Cultural Heritage. Sixteen of them have been inscribed by UNESCO, including Pencak Silat," said Menbud Fadli in an official statement.

He reminded that the mandate of the Cultural Development Law requires the state to protect, develop, and use the heritage.

English:

Fadli also highlighted the importance of documentation. According to him, preservation is no longer enough to be done conventionally. Documentary films and festival participation are considered strategic to maintain the sustainability of various streams of Pencak Silat in the midst of changing times.

The chairman of the committee, Yusron, said that the reflection of six years of UNESCO recognition must be followed by a clear direction. "Not just being grateful, but ensuring that Pencak Silat remains the life of the nation," he said.

KPSTI Chairman Mahfudz Abdurrahman added that preservation must be carried out collaboratively and systematically so that Pencak Silat continues to be consumed by the community and appears on the world stage.

At this momentum, KPSTI also handed over the KPSTI Award to a number of figures, including President Prabowo Subianto and Minister of Culture Fadli Zon, for their role in preserving Pencak Silat.