Indonesian Culture Minister Urges Youth to Embrace National Diversity on Youth Pledge Day

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Minister of Culture Fadli Zon marked the 96th Youth Pledge Day by urging young Indonesians to honor the nation’s rich cultural diversity and cultivate a sense of belonging. Speaking at the inauguration of the 2024 Language and Literary Month Exhibition in Jakarta on Monday, Zon emphasized the significance of culture as both a national identity and a valuable asset.

“A civilized and great nation is one that respects its cultures,” Zon stated. “We can only consider ourselves civilized if we treat our local cultures as integral parts of our identity.” He highlighted Indonesia’s cultural treasures, including the keris (traditional dagger), wayang (shadow puppetry), and batik (textile art), stressing the need to recognize these elements as national assets to safeguard them against cultural appropriation by other nations.

The minister pointed out the importance of protecting Indonesia’s cultural heritage to ensure the sustainability of its traditions and practices. He also called for a balanced approach to preserving local cultures while promoting the Indonesian language as a unifying element that connects the country’s diverse ethnic groups and languages.

“It is crucial to uphold the role of the Indonesian language as our national language while actively working to preserve and protect local languages from extinction,” he emphasized, noting that several local languages in Indonesia have already become extinct due to declining numbers of speakers. Minister Zon’s remarks serve as a call to action for the younger generation to engage with and celebrate Indonesia’s cultural heritage.