Confessing To The Minister Of Industry Agus Once Proposed To Use Batik During The State Agenda, But Rejected

Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita. (Theresia Agatha/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Industry (Memperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita once suggested that batik clothes be worn in every state event. He submitted the proposal when he was still a member of the 2009 DPR RI.

Agus said that all members of the DPR should wear batik for state events. The proposal has been submitted to the chairman of the DPR, Marzuki Ali, who served at that time. However, the proposal was rejected.

"When I was still a member of the 2009 DPR RI, at that time the chairman of the DPR, Mr. Marzuki Ali. I as a member of the DPR RI wrote a letter and proposed to the leadership of the DPR so that all members of the DPR RI state events using batik, I had proposed that in 2009 it be rejected. But, it was part of the struggle," Agus said when opening the National Batik Day exhibition with the 2024 Industrial Festival with the theme 'Bandga Berbatik' which was held at the Kota Kasablanka Mall, South Jakarta, Wednesday, October 2.

Even so, his spirit did not recede. He also admitted that he had changed the dress habits in the ministry he was carrying.

He also encouraged his staff and all those who work at the Ministry of Industry to use batik every Monday-Thursday. In fact, previously batik was only used every Friday.

"We changed the habit of dress. Previously batik was only used on Friday. I changed it to wear Monday, Tuesday, Thursday. Four days a week. We just released it Friday," he said.

Furthermore, Agus emphasized that the government should fight for Indonesian batik can be worn in state events. This happened in South Africa and the Philippines. He said the two countries were not ashamed to wear traditional traditional clothes.

"For example, if leaders from South Africa are never ashamed to wear their traditional clothes which in my view are like batik. Those leaders in the Philippines are never ashamed to wear their traditional clothes. Why should we be ashamed? Why don't we prioritize our traditional clothes, yes, to be used in state events," he added.