Visiting Malang City, Minister Fadli Zon: Cultural Diversity Reflects National Wealth

Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Fadli Zon (Doc. Kemenbud)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Culture Fadli Zon arrived in Malang Regency, East Java Province on Sunday, February 16 to carry out various series of cultural promotion activities in one of the regions that is famous for having many of these temples. Starting the visit in Malang Regency, the Minister of Culture closed the activities of the Second Congress of Research Activists in Indoor Bani Hasyim Singosari. This congress is a tangible manifestation of the younger generation to foster and continue the fighting spirit of HOS Tjokroaminoto, who is a nation teacher who has an important role in the history of Indonesian independence. This Peneleh activist is a youth generation who has a vision as a forum for youth movements that emphasizes the spirit of reliquity and culture in line with what is taught by HOS Tjokroaminoto.

Furthermore, together with members of Commission X DPR RI dr. Gamal Albinsaid (F-PKS) and Deputy Regent of Malang Didik Gatot Subroto, Minister Fadli reviewed several temples, the majority of which were Hindu-Buddha and were the residences of the Kingdom of Singosari. Some of the temples visited include Candi Singosari, Candi Kidal, and Candi Jago, all three of which have the status of National Cultural Heritage (CBN).

"The Ministry of Culture is committed to making efforts to accelerate culture through collaboration and cooperation, by involving all parties so that the common goal is realized, namely culture that can improve people's welfare and strengthen the nation's identity," said the Minister of Culture in an official statement received by VOI.

On this occasion, the Minister of Culture also visited the Panji Museum, which since 2016 has introduced the Makapan Mask culture through puppets, inscriptions from the Kingdom, and diorama about the Kingdom of Kediri and the Kingdom of Tumpel which tells about the battles that occurred in the past. The Minister of Culture appreciated the efforts made to maintain the nation's culture, one of which is the Panji Story, which has scheduled not only in Indonesia but also in various parts of the world.

"The Indonesian nation should be proud because this Panji Story has entered the UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW) in 2017, which shows that our national culture is recognized in the global world," said Minister Fadli.

On Monday 17 February, the Minister of Culture then held a discussion with the academic community of Universitas Brawijaya (UB) in the activity of Cultural Defense and Discussion of Indonesian Cultural Houses in China'. On this occasion he conveyed that the Ministry of Culture encourages the promotion of culture, one of which is through diplomatic, promotional, and cultural cooperation efforts. He emphasized that The Ministry of Culture welcomes the potential for cooperation that was built between the Ministry of Culture and Universitas Brawijaya in an effort to encourage Indonesian culture to be global, through efforts to research culture, Indonesian cultural homes, and the Indonesian Language Teaching program for Foreign Speakers.

The Minister also visited the Indonesian Music Museum located on Jl. Nusakambangan, Malang City which has tens of thousands of collections of cassettes, CDs, black disks, magazines, singer fashion, to a number of musical instruments from both Indonesian and foreign musicians. In this case, the Ministry of Culture is committed to advancing an art ecosystem such as music.

Indonesia's various musical talents are very diverse and full of creativity, showing the global competitiveness of Indonesian musicians. Let's strengthen collaboration and cooperation to show Indonesian music, be loved domestically and admired by the world," said Minister Fadli.

Closing a series of activities in Malang, the Minister of Culture visited the Padepokan of Makasan Art Malangan Asmorobangun which is located in Kedungmonggo Hamlet, Karangpandan Village, Pakisaji District, Malang which was founded in 1900 and spearheaded by the Maestro Mbah Karimun. The Minister expressed his appreciation for the Malangan Mask Art show, which is a place to preserve the culture of the Malangan mask dance, one of the legacy of the Majapahit Kingdom which is still alive in the community today.

Through collaborative efforts including preservation of cultural heritage, development of arts and traditions, to the use of technology to disseminate Indonesian culture throughout the world, the Minister of Culture is optimistic that Indonesian culture will continue to live and develop, providing benefits for the current and future generations.