Klojen (malangkota.go.id) – The Malang Tempo Doeloe Festival (MTD) 2017 was held again on Jalan Ijen Simpang Balapan, Malang City, Sunday (12/11). The event started in the morning at 08.00 WIB – 23.00 WIB which was filled with visitors until the event ended.
This MTD reminds the people of Malang City of their past lives and the struggle against colonial rule. This event was also attended by the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia Prof. Dr. Muhadjir Effendy, M.AP, member of the East Java Provincial DPRD Dra. Sri Untari, M.AP, and was opened directly by the Mayor of Malang H. Moch Anton.
The theme raised in MTD 2017 is "What is a Coconut? So that the community who participated in the celebration brought equipment in the form of coconuts and graters. To start the coconut grating activity, it was led directly by Muhadjir Effendy by grating coconuts together on stage followed by other participants.
Malang Tempo Doelou visitor Hariyanto admitted that he was very happy when he was on holiday in Malang when Malang Tempo Doelou was held. Unfortunately, the performance was only for one day, if it was held for a week like the one in Jl Ijen, it would have been more interesting.
Muhadjir Effendy welcomed the Malang Tempo Doeloe 2017 performance which was a collaboration between the Inggil Foundation and the Malang City Culture and Tourism Office. This activity is part of an effort to educate the public about culture so that they never forget the history and culture of the nation.
"I hope this kind of activity is held every year. This event is very good for educating the public about history and culture," explained Muhadjir.
The role of history, said Muhadjir, is very important to remember so that citizens do not lose their identity in facing the future. Many great histories were born from Malang City and are no less than the City of Heroes which has been called Surabaya. Malang City has the history of the oldest kingdom in East Java originating from Malang City, namely the Gajayana Kingdom.
Likewise for the oldest temple in East Java, it is also in Malang City, namely Badut Temple. So is the spirit of struggle arek Malang won independence, no less powerful than Surabaya. Malang City, he continued, has TRIP heroes or student soldiers who are the only one in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of Malang, who is usually called Abah Anton, said in his speech that the MTD 2017 could be held as proof of cooperation between all parties. The extraordinary enthusiasm of the Malang community is real proof that Malang Tempo Doeloe has become an icon.
"I really support this event, because in addition to being a place to introduce history and culture, it can also have an impact on the rotation of the economic wheel. We hope that in the future events like this can continue to be held," said Abah Anton.
Not only that, one of the MTD 2017 visitors, Hariyanto, admitted that he was very happy to be able to attend directly to see the excitement of the extraordinary MTD 2017 event. As a child of Malang in a foreign land, he was very happy to be able to witness it.
"'Events like this are a source of pride for us as Malang children living abroad. Of course this reminds us of the past of Malang residents in all things," he concluded. (cah/ram)
