MEDAN - Culture Minister Fadli Zon emphasized that museums are not enough to just store historical objects. When reviewing the Juang 45 Medan Building and the Indonesian Plantation Museum, Sunday, March 8, he highlighted the need for improvements to the display, lighting, and use of digital technology so that museums are not left behind and are more attractive to the public, especially the younger generation.
At the Juang 45 Medan Building, Fadli appreciated the revitalization that had been carried out. However, he noted that museum updates should not stop at the physical stage. According to him, the building which witnessed the people's struggle in the Medan Area battle of 1945-1949 still needs to be strengthened in terms of information presentation and visitor experience.
"In the future, we will improve again, especially in terms of lighting, display layout, and the use of digital technology so that the visitor experience is more immersive," said Fadli.
Fadli also highlighted the numismatic collection on display. According to him, money and stamps are not only old collections, but also markers of state identity in the early days of independence. The collection also records the traces of encounters between various communities, including plantation workers who were brought from Java.
After Gedung Juang 45, Fadli continued his visit to the Indonesian Plantation Museum. He considered this museum important because it contained the history of plantation commodities that had supported the colonial economy and shaped the history of North Sumatra.
According to the Minister of Education, the narrative needs to continue to be revived because it shows how the natural wealth of the archipelago has been a source of prosperity for the colonial country. Therefore, museums must appear as a learning and reflection space, not just a collection showcase.
"Here we can see how the history of plantations has grown since the era of economic liberalization in 1870. Various commodities such as sugar cane, tobacco, and other plantation crops have become flagship products that are exported to various regions of the world, especially to Europe," he said.
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