Bantul enacts new policy to preserve Javanese

Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

The Bantul regency government has introduced an initiative that will require all civil servants in the administration to speak Javanese only for one day a month.

The initiative is aimed at preserving the culture and language of Javanese, which has been slowly sidelined by the national language Bahasa Indonesia, according to an official.

"As part of the initiative, civil servants will have to speak Javanese on the 20th of every month when they hold meetings, interact with each other and deliver services to the public," said Bantul Regent Idham Samawi.

He said the initiative came about following a community meeting last July 16 to commemorate the 172nd anniversary of Bantul regency.

"The people's representatives who attended the gathering ordered me to preserve Javanese culture," he said on Tuesday.

The regent did not go into details on whether civil servants would face punishment if they failed to or could not speak Javanese.

Idham said the initiative would include non-Javanese civil servants, who the regent said should begin studying the Javanese language and culture.

"They are brothers and sisters of the people of Bantul. If they can't speak Javanese, they can learn it. It is not difficult to learn Javanese if you have the will.

"These civil servants should be aware that we are all part of the Bantul people, and we should work together to promote development and unity in Bantul through culture."

Sukijan, the head of Munthuk hamlet in Dlingo district, praised the initiative, saying it would help preserve Javanese culture.