Government backs manuscript preservation through the Indonesiana Fund

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Culture Minister Fadli Zon expressed support for various programmes contributing to the preservation of Nusantara manuscripts, including the Indonesiana Fund, which can be utilised by scribal communities in various regions. He also emphasised the importance of building a strong manuscript database as the basis for protection and utilisation of Nusantara manuscripts. ‘There is a need for more systematic and sustainable efforts to salvage manuscripts through cooperation between the government, academics, and the community,’ the Culture Minister said when contacted by ANTARA from Jakarta on Wednesday. Minister Fadli estimated that there are around 150,000 manuscripts in Indonesia, most of which still require inventory and preservation. Many manuscripts are believed to be held in communities in relatively good condition because they are cared for in traditional ways, but there are threats from pest damage, and manuscripts also face the risk of natural disasters. The meeting reaffirmed a shared commitment to safeguarding Nusantara manuscripts as a source of knowledge and the nation’s cultural heritage. Manassa, a professional scribal organisation founded on 5 July 1996 by the late Prof. Ikah Halil, a professor of philology at the University of Indonesia, attended the meeting. Manassa presented several proposals for strategic programmes that could be collaborated with the Ministry of Culture. One of these is the development of a certification for scribal competence to meet the regional need for philologists and technical personnel who have competency standards in manuscript handling. It is hoped that this certification can support the implementation of cultural advancement, including activities of the Regional Cultural Heritage Experts Team.