"The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture continues to encourage the preservation of kebaya clothing as an Indonesian identity in order to foster a sense of nationalism among the community, especially Indonesian women," deputy for coordination for quality improvement of children, women, and youth at the ministry, Femmy Eka Kartika Putri, said.
When contacted from Jakarta on Tuesday, Putri said that the Indonesian people must understand that the kebaya is the nation's cultural heritage that must be preserved by wearing it at every opportunity.
"By wearing a kebaya, it will exude the aura and beauty of Indonesian women, which is reflected in the attitudes and behavior of Indonesian women who are civilized and highly cultured," she added.
According to Putri, the proposal for National Kebaya Day by the National Team for National Kebaya Day Submission needs to be approved promptly to encourage the preservation of the kebaya.
"We hope that this year, the date for National Kebaya Day can be set. We strongly support the proposal for National Kebaya Day," she said.
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National Kebaya Day is expected to encourage the habit of wearing kebaya, especially among young people, she added.
"All groups need to instill the habit of wearing the kebaya, including young people, considering that the kebaya is a national identity of pride for Indonesian women that needs to be preserved," she remarked.
She also said that the determination of National Kebaya Day involves several steps.
"It takes several stages, such as the stage of scientific study of the basis for the proposal and the stage of determining the party that will be the initiator. All of them must be prepared and designed before being proposed to the President," she explained.
Related to this, the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture will encourage the strengthening of coordination and synergy of various related parties to prepare for the necessary stages.
"It requires careful coordination between the submission of National Kebaya Day by cooperating with community representatives, national figures, cultural observers, academics, and community representatives from various circles and professions," Putri said.
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Translator: Wuryanti, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Suharto
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