Pancasila Sakti Monument Revitalized, Fadli Zon Requests Fact-Based Narration

Fadli Zon wants the Pancasila Sakti Monument in Lubang Buaya, East Jakarta, not only to be a place of historical pilgrimage. (IST)

JAKARTA - Minister of Culture Fadli Zon wants the Pancasila Sakti Monument in Lubang Buaya, East Jakarta, not only to be a place of historical pilgrimage. He encourages the area to be strengthened as a more lively, fact-based, and easy-to-understand educational space for the younger generation.

This was discussed by Fadli in a closed group discussion with the TNI History Center or Pusjarah at the Ministry of Culture Office, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday, July 6. The meeting discussed the revitalization of the narrative and content of museums in the Pancasila Sakti Monument area.

Fadli said the museum in the area is an open air museum that stores the traces of the post-independence rebellion. Therefore, updating is not enough to touch only the physical building, but also the way history is presented to the public.

"The exhibition displayed must be based on facts. This is also a challenge to create a narrative and depiction of dioramas that are in line with a comprehensive timeline," said Fadli.

According to Fadli, museum updates are not to eliminate or change history. Revitalization must present historical facts based on valid sources, ranging from documents, books, archives, to newspapers.

Fadli also assessed that the museum's collection needed to be updated and added so that the sequence of events could be displayed more completely. That way, visitors not only see dioramas, but understand the flow of events in its entirety.

"It needs to be updated and added to the collection to display the sequence of events in full," said Fadli.

As an in-situ museum, or a museum that is located at the site of a historical event, Fadli proposed a rearrangement of the visit flow. Visitors can be directed to the museum first before heading to the Crocodile Hole site.

"To add experience from people who visit the Pancasila Sakti Monument, it is also necessary to make the path, maybe to the museum first and then to the Crocodile Hole site," said Fadli.

He also encouraged the use of technology in museum displays. According to Fadli, presenting history needs to keep up with the times, including with immersive technology and dioramas that are more visually powerful.

Immersive technology is a technology that makes visitors feel closer to the atmosphere or event displayed. This method is considered important so that museums do not feel stiff, especially for young visitors.

Head of Public Affairs of the TNI Archives, Colonel Czi Dwi Imam Subagyo, expressed support for the plan. He said the TNI Archives had a number of documents and data that could be collaborated with the Ministry of Culture.

"Museums are spaces that we must update and complete. We at Pusjarah TNI have several documents and data, so that later we will immediately collaborate with the direction of the Minister of Culture," said Dwi.

Fadli emphasized that the revitalization of the Pancasila Sakti Monument must be directed to strengthen the function of historical education as well as the footsteps of the nation's journey.

"Museums must be a space for educating history and become part of the actual journey of our nation, as well as part of the collective memory of the nation," said Fadli.