Fadli Zon Affirms The Government Is Open In Receiving Criticism, Input, And Collaboration From The Community

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon emphasized that the government must criticize and input the public. (IST)

JAKARTA - Support from various elements of society in the writing of national history is increasing. This time, a number of historians who take part in the Historical Concerned Community Communication Forum (FKMPS) held a dialogue with the Minister of Culture Fadli Zon at the Ministry of Culture Building, Senayan, Jakarta, to convey aspirations as well as support and willingness to collaborate with the government in terms of national history writing.

The Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, welcomed the arrival of FKMPS, and expressed hope that the Ministry of Culture targets this historical book to be published as part of the 80th anniversary of the Independence Indonesia Year.

The Historical Concerned Community Communication Forum (FKMPS) represented by the Chair, Batara Hutagalung; Board of Trustees, Dr. (HC) Heppy Trenggono and the Expert Council, Prof. Taufik Abdullah, Prof. Dr. Yuddy Chrisnandi, as well as a number of other figures, conveyed several things that became the main focus of discussion, namely on the importance of accurate historical education, neutral national narrative, and preservation of cultural heritage in various media formats.

On this occasion, the Minister of Education and Culture also conveyed the re-establishment of the Directorate of History and Museums, as well as discussions about the big project of national historical writing. This project includes the preparation of ten volumes of Indonesian history books from the early civilization to the present. This process involves historians and experts from various universities in Indonesia, and is currently in the public test stage by collecting input from various stakeholders.

Furthermore, the Minister of Culture also explained that the writing and national history team consisted of more than 113 academics and experts spread across 34 universities and research institutions.

Then Fadli Zon said that inputs from this public test session would be included in the final manuscript, which was planned to be published on time in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Indonesia's independence.

"In addition to public trials, we also receive hearings from various organizations, including the TNI, Polri, Islamic organizations such as Muhammadiyah, NU, and Persis, as well as other community institutions. They provide important notes and sources that will be considered to be included in writing," explained Minister Fadli.

"I hope that FKMPS can also provide additional input and historical perspectives. This historical writing will also ensure that Indonesia-centric and relevant perspectives for the younger generation, as well as complementary materials such as documentary films, historical comics, and interactive tutorials," he continued.

Previously, Batara Hutagalung conveyed a number of his hopes in the discussion forum to Minister Fadli for national historical writing. "We hope that this process (writing) will be carried out carefully, properly, and the results will not become a polemic in the community," he hoped representing FKMPS.

The Minister of Culture then said that for about 26 years, Indonesia did not write national history as a whole. According to him, referring to official government documents, the last major history writing was the Indonesian National Series which was published in 1975 and updated in 1984. The update was indeed made in 2008, he explained, but only covered six topics, and not even until the 1999 election.

"Indeed, there are other works such as Indonesia in the Historical Flow (IDAS), but the preparation is thematic and does not follow the chronological history. Therefore, President Prabowo views it as important to return to writing Indonesia's history comprehensively and continuously."

Also attending this forum were the Expert Staff of the Minister for Inter-Agency Relations, Ismunandar, and the Director of the Directorate of History and Summary, Agus Mulyana.

Menbud at the end of the meeting said that this was part of our efforts to write and confirm the identity of Indonesia's old and rich civilization. According to him, history should not be deleted, it must be revived and strengthened by Indonesia-centric.

"Writing is our shared responsibility, and therefore we open space for discussion, criticism, and input from the wider community so that the final result truly represents the journey of the Indonesian nation," concluded Fadli Zon.