A Look at the Marsinah Museum, to be Inaugurated by Prabowo Tomorrow
The Marsinah Museum in Nglundo Village, Nganjuk, East Java, has been completed. President Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to inaugurate the museum, which serves as a symbol of the Indonesian labour movement, tomorrow.
Andi Gani Nena Wea, President of the Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPSI) and the initiator of the museum’s construction, stated that preparations for the inauguration are complete. He hopes the inauguration will proceed smoothly.
“Tomorrow, Mr. President will arrive here at 08:45 WIB, and the event will begin at 09:00 WIB. This is extraordinary; the President has a great concern for the struggles of Indonesian workers,” said Andi Gani during a rehearsal in Nganjuk, Friday (May 15, 2026).
Andi Gani said the museum was built independently by KSPSI without using the State Budget (APBN). He said KSPSI has independent organizational management and finances.
“This museum was built without APBN funds. Why is KSPSI capable? Because we have strong organizational and financial management. This is a full form of awareness because Ibu Marsinah was a member of KSPSI,” he said.
He explained that the museum’s contents consist of several segments that describe Marsinah’s life journey. For example, the original clothes Marsinah wore before she died, the bag she carried at the time, and original newspaper clippings that recorded the events of her murder and the trial.
“The contents start from the beginning, there are Ibu Marsinah’s clothes at the time before she died. This is the bag she carried at the time, and then there are newspaper clippings; if we look, there are clippings about her murder and why it happened, and here it is all complete,” explained Andi Gandi.
As observed by detikcom, the museum also displays a diorama of the working conditions in the 1990s and the history of the 13 people who were forced to sign resignation letters at that time. In addition, there is also a summary of the things that Marsinah fought for at that time.
One of the unique aspects is that the museum is built right on the spot where Marsinah’s umbilical cord was buried. The location of the museum is also right next to Marsinah’s childhood home.
“Above this museum is the place where Ibu Marsinah’s umbilical cord was buried. So this has a strong and extraordinary history,” said Andi Gani.
Andi Gani said that they adopted the concept from the National Gallery Museum in Singapore in the design of the Marsinah Museum. The Director of the General Criminal Investigation Division of the National Police, Brigadier General Mohammad Irhamni, and the Labour Affairs Desk of the National Police also participated in supervising the construction of the museum.
“We adopted this; Mr. Irhami and his team went to the National Gallery Museum in Singapore. Finally, this concept was adopted,” he said.
In addition to the museum, a Rest House has also been built on the same site for pilgrims or labour activists from outside the city. This facility can be used free of charge.
The inauguration ceremony is expected to be attended by approximately 7,000 workers from Surabaya, Nganjuk, Mojokerto, and Jombang. In addition to President Prabowo, several figures are also scheduled to attend, including the Secretary-General of ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation) Shoya Yoshida, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa, and leaders from the MPR and DPD RI.
After the inauguration tomorrow, the museum will be officially opened to the public seven days later. The public can visit without charge.