Minister of Culture Requests Removal of Coal Stockpiles from Muarajambi National Cultural Heritage Area
Jambi City (ANTARA) - The Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, has requested that coal stockpiles be moved out of the Muarajemb National Cultural Heritage Area (KCBN) Muarajambi. This statement was made by Fadli Zon while responding to questions from students during a public lecture on the advancement of culture from a cultural economy perspective at the University of Jambi in Jambi City on Friday.
“I am confident that the Governor is on the side of culture. We are requesting that even the existing mines and stockpiles in that area move immediately from the Muarajambi KCBN territory,” he stated. He expressed belief that the local government, particularly the Governor, shares the same commitment to protecting cultural heritage, noting that the protection of cultural heritage sites is an absolute and non-negotiable matter.
Furthermore, Fadli Zon reminded that the designation of an area as a cultural heritage site carries binding legal consequences. According to him, any action that has the potential to damage or degrade the cultural heritage area can be categorised as a legal violation. Although there are threats of sanctions, the current government is prioritising a smooth transition process so that business operators can relocate their operations voluntarily and independently without harming cultural preservation. This step is being taken to build a sustainable cultural ecosystem for the future.
“But since everything is currently in process, we hope everything can proceed well for the sustainability of the ecosystem (of the temples),” he concluded.
Novie Hari Putranto, a Junior Expert Cultural Officer at the Jambi Cultural Preservation Office, explained the core zone in question, as per the Decree of the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, Number: 135/M/2023, regarding the Zoning System of the Muarajambi National-Ranked Cultural Heritage Area. This decree establishes a zoning system for the Muarajambi area, consisting of core, buffer, and development zones, covering a total area of 3,981 hectares.
Jambi Governor Al Haris emphasised that his administration is still awaiting a decision from the Ministry of Culture regarding the division of zones within the Muarajambi KCBN area, noting that the cultural heritage site is an asset fully owned by the Ministry of Culture. “I am still waiting for that, because this is within the authority of the Ministry of Culture as the owner of the temple assets. In the core zone, nothing is allowed; in the buffer zone, activities are still permitted as long as they do not damage the environment,” said Al Haris.