Anthropology Association: Supervision of Cultural Heritage Remains Weak

The Chairperson of the Indonesian Anthropology Association, Suraya Afiff, believes that weak oversight and regulatory enforcement have allowed many cultural heritage sites in Indonesia to fall into the hands of irresponsible parties. As a result, numerous historic buildings and sites are being demolished, repurposed, or stripped of their historical significance without any legal repercussions.

According to Suraya, protecting cultural heritage requires more than just regulations; it must also ensure that historic sites do not fall to parties that disregard preservation values. These remarks were made during a Public Hearing of the House of Representatives (DPR) Working Committee on the Protection and Utilisation of Cultural Heritage in Jakarta, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, 2 June 2026.

“Many sites lack clear security measures, raising the question of how we can ensure these sites do not fall into irresponsible hands,” said Suraya.

Suraya noted that the issue is exacerbated by the weak implementation of rules when development interests clash with preservation efforts. She cited the KONI Building in Central Kalimantan, which was removed despite extensive studies by experts and widespread public opposition.

“Even though architects had completed comprehensive studies, it was ultimately removed. This raises the question: when such actions occur, what are the actual sanctions?” she added.

Nadia Purwestri, Executive Director of the Centre for Architectural Documentation, added that weak oversight is evident in the frequent demolition of heritage buildings in various regions. She noted that while regulations are already in place, field implementation remains inadequate.

“What is lacking is how local and central governments conduct monitoring and supervision to ensure that heritage buildings are not neglected and subsequently demolished,” said Nadia.

Nadia pointed to the demolition of an important heritage building in Gorontalo, which triggered protests from various professional organisations. However, she noted that similar cases rarely result in legal enforcement.

Furthermore, changes in land use within heritage areas such as Menteng, and development along Transit Oriented Development (TOD) corridors, are also seen as increasing pressure on historic structures. In Kebayoran Baru, she noted that two houses featuring ‘jengki’ architecture are now squeezed by high-rise buildings, while in Menteng, several heritage houses have been forced into sale or demolition due to the high burden of Land and Building Tax (PBB).