The minister noted that the home, locally known as Rumah Ema Idham, had been designated a cultural heritage through Padang Level II Region Head Decision No. 3 of 1998.
"The ministry has coordinated and will continue to do so with the regional authority to seek the best solution. We will also consider legal measures and coordination with other parties," Makarim noted as per the statement here, Friday.
Law No. 11 of 2010 on Cultural Heritage mandates owners or parties that exercise control over a cultural heritage to properly preserve it and place the responsibility of overseeing cultural heritage conditions on the municipal and district authorities, the minister explained.
Article 105 of the same law stated that every person, who deliberately destroys a cultural heritage, should be sentenced to a prison term of at least one year and no more than 15 years.
Hence, the demolition is illegal, and the ministry is compelled to follow up on the case by taking all necessary actions, he affirmed.
"We urge all parties to preserve structures (designated as) cultural heritage and the collective memory of our nation's history," Makarim stressed.
The cultural heritage hosted Indonesia's national founder and first president Soekarno for three months in 1942 when he was en route from Bengkulu for an overseas exile imposed by the Dutch colonial authority.
During his stay at the Padang house, Soekarno continued his struggle to rally support for nationalist causes against the colonial authority.
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Translator: Astrid FH, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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