Bung Hatta Museum is being prepared in Bukittinggi, Pertamina assets are being investigated

JAKARTA - The plan to establish the Bung Hatta Memorial Museum in Bukittinggi is being discussed seriously. The Ministry of Culture and the Bung Hatta Foundation are exploring the use of unused buildings in the Pertamina environment.

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon received an audience from the Bung Hatta Foundation at the Ministry of Culture office, Senayan, Jakarta. The meeting discussed plans to establish a museum that would raise the legacy of the thinking of Mohammad Hatta, the proclaimer and the first Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia.

Fadli appreciated the initiative of the Bung Hatta Foundation. According to him, the utilization of vacant buildings as museums has begun to be carried out by the government.

"We have also started efforts to utilize assets owned by SOEs or other government-owned assets, empty buildings for us to make museums, such as film museums and music museums," said Fadli in a written statement received Wednesday, June 3.

The Chairman of the Bung Hatta Foundation, Maizar Rahman, said the foundation was ready to support the provision of museum collections on a voluntary basis. He also hoped for support from philanthropists.

"The Bung Hatta Foundation is ready to support the provision of museum collections on a voluntary basis. We also hope for support from philanthropists for the establishment of this museum," said Maizar.

The building targeted for the Bung Hatta Memorial Museum is located in the Pertamina environment. Therefore, Fadli encouraged cross-sectoral involvement so that the utilization of these assets can run.

"The Ministry of Culture will strive to involve the President Director of Pertamina in the plan to utilize assets for the Bung Hatta Memorial Museum," said Fadli.

He also said that the formation of the Board of Trustees together with Danantara Indonesia Trust needs to be encouraged to strengthen the governance of cultural heritage memorials. The Board of Trustees is a board of directors or supervisor who helps maintain the direction, governance, and sustainability of an institution.

In the meeting, Fadli was accompanied by a number of officials from the Ministry of Culture, including Inspector General Fryda Lucyana, Expert Staff to the Minister for Economic and Cultural Industry Anindita Kusuma Listya, Special Staff to the Minister for Law and Intellectual Property Rights Putri Woelan Sari Dewi, and Director of History and Museums Agus Mulyana.

This plan is still in the discussion stage. The key issue is not only the collection, but also the status of assets, Pertamina's involvement, funding support, and the museum's governance model.

That way, the establishment of the Bung Hatta Memorial Museum does not stop at the idea. The government, foundation, asset owner, and potential funding supporters still have to unite their steps before the museum is truly realized in Bukittinggi.