Speaking on Monday at the inauguration of the 2024 Language and Literary Month Exhibition in Jakarta, he expressed that a civilized and great nation values its cultures, viewing them as both a national identity and a source of wealth.
"Regarding culture, I believe a civilized nation is one that respects its cultures," Zon stated. "We can only call ourselves a civilized nation if we respect our local cultures, treating them as our assets and identity."
The minister highlighted Indonesia's cultural treasures, including the keris, wayang, and batik, emphasizing the importance of viewing them as national assets to prevent cultural appropriation by other nations.
He stressed that such protection is essential to ensure the sustainability of Indonesia’s cultural elements and practices.
Zon also underscored the need to preserve local cultures while maintaining the Indonesian language as a unifying tool that connects the country’s diverse cultures and languages.
“It is crucial to take a balanced approach—upholding the role of the Indonesian language as the national language while actively preserving and protecting local languages from extinction,” he emphasized.
The minister noted that several local languages in Indonesia have already gone extinct due to a declining number of speakers.
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Translator: Hana Dewi, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Anton Santoso
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