Malang, MC – Protection of the historical heritage of Malang City is a commitment that continues to be realized by the Malang City Government (Pemkot). One of them is realized through the determination of 47 cultural heritages which were symbolically conveyed in the commemoration ceremony of National Awakening Day (Harkitnas) 2022 in the yard of Malang City Hall, Friday (20/5/2022).
As many as 9 of the 47 cultural heritage sites were symbolically handed over by the Mayor of Malang, Drs. H. Sutiaji, to the management agency and/or asset owner. This includes cultural heritage objects, namely the Widodaren I and II Inscriptions and the Adhi Kuranandin Statue owned by the Tugu Hotel. In addition, there are also Yoni Mertojoyo and the Dara Puspita Costume. The other four assets are in the form of buildings, namely The Shalimar Boutique Hotel, the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) Bromo, Brawijaya Christian Elementary School, and Fendy's Homestay.
Thus, a total of 78 cultural heritage assets have been designated by the Malang City Government in the 2018-2022 period. Previously in 2018, 31 cultural heritages were designated including the Malang City Hall building, Bank Indonesia Building, Ijen Church, and Cor Jesu School.
Malang Mayor Sutiaji expressed his high appreciation for the cooperation of stakeholders involved in efforts to preserve the city's important assets. Including the Malang City Cultural Heritage Expert Team (TACB), residents and institutions that own cultural heritage objects and buildings.
"There is a struggle of many parties behind the efforts to preserve the historical assets of our beloved city. Alhamdulillah, this invaluable heritage may be preserved for our learning and the future of our children and grandchildren. For all that, thank you from us and on behalf of the citizens of Arema," explained Sutiaji.
Looking back, the birth of Regional Regulation Number 1 of 2018 concerning Cultural Heritage at the beginning of Sutiaji's leadership became an important milestone in the preservation of Malang City's cultural heritage which had been delayed for several decades. Therefore, after this determination, Sutiaji asked his staff to continue collaborating with TACB, academics, the business world, and various elements of society to continue efforts to protect other historical assets.
"We are not stopping here, including those that have been determined, of course there is a collaborative role for all parties to help maintain it together," he invited.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Malang City Education and Culture Office (Dikbud) Suwarjana, SE., MM added that his party is ready to carry out the directive. According to him, the cultural richness of Malang City is still waiting for a touch.
"We continue to push for its determination. Both those that are assets owned by the Malang City Government and those owned by individuals. In 2022, we together with TACB are exploring the steps to determine the monument area," he said.
In detail, the Head of the Cultural Division of the Education and Culture Office, Dr. Dian Kuntarti, S.STP., M.Si explained that each of the 47 cultural heritage sites that were designated had gone through a proposal process by the agency assisted by surveyors, a study by the TACB, until finally the Mayor of Malang issued a Decree.
"The mayor's decree was made one by one, for each cultural heritage. They are unique and we are very happy to be able to reach the determination," said Dian.
One of the interesting things is the stage costume of Dara Puspita, the first Indonesian female band that successfully toured Asia and Europe. The cultural heritage object that was sewn by Titiek AR, the guitarist of Dara Puspita while in the Netherlands in 1970, is now neatly stored in the Indonesian Music Museum (MMI) on Jalan Nusakambangan, Malang City.
Meanwhile, for the building category, one of them is the Shalimar Hotel Building which was built in 1933 by Ir. Muler. The building which was formerly known as the Maconieke Lodge Building and located in Taman Cerme (formerly Tjermeeplein) has undergone several changes in function. Including the Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) Malang Building in 1964 before finally being renovated and converted into a hotel in 1993 until now. (ndu/ram)
