Tengku Abdul Jamal's Grave And The Zuriat Raja Isa Tomb Complex Officially Set For Cultural Conservation At The Riau Islands Province Level

The Riau Islands Provincial Cultural Heritage Expert Team conducted a field review to see the Batam cultural heritage. (ANTARA/HO-Disbudpar Batam)

BATAM - Two cultural heritages in Batam City, namely Tengku Abdul Jamal's Grave and the Zuriat Raja Isa Tomb Complex, were officially designated as cultural heritage at the Riau Islands Province (Kepri) level in 2024.

Head of the Department of Culture and Tourism (Disbudpar) Batam City Ardiwinata said that this process is a great achievement in cultural conservation in Batam.

"The two cultural heritages were originally set at the city level in 2022. Then, they were submitted to the province in early 2024 to get recognition at the provincial level," said Ardiwinata, quoted from ANTARA, Saturday, December 14.

Juru Pelestari sekaligus anggota Tim Ahli Cagar Budaya (TACB) Disbudpar Batam, Raja Zulkarnain mengatakan bahwa pengajuan warga budaya ke tingkat provinsi melibatkan TACB Batam yang bekerja sama dengan TACB Provinsi Kepulauan Riau.

"We submitted it to the provincial level TACB and then they budgeted. After that, the team will go to the field to conduct a survey. If all the requirements are met, it will be ratified through a Decree (SK) signed by the Governor," he said.

The ratification of the cultural heritage was confirmed in the Decree of the Governor of the Riau Islands Number 1103 of 2024.

"We proposed nine cultural heritages, because we already had nine at that time. But there were two who passed the assessment," added Raja.

As a recognized cultural heritage at the provincial level, Tengku Abdul Jamal's Grave and the Zuriat Tomb Complex Raja Isa now have the opportunity to be submitted to the national level, although they still have to meet stricter requirements.

These two graves have been opened for tourist visits, especially as religious tourist destinations. However, Ardiwinata admits that visitors still need to be increased.

"As a historic tomb, these two cultural heritages are suitable for religious tourism. Some make pilgrimages to these locations but are still minimal. Hopefully, recognition at the provincial level can encourage people to get to know and appreciate local history," he added.

This determination is the result of the Batam City government's efforts to preserve cultural heritage and give higher ratings to these heritages.

Disbudpar Batam hopes that this recognition will not only strengthen Batam's cultural identity but also increase the attractiveness of city tourism as a destination that is rich in historical value.