Museum of records

Museum of records

For some years now, as most of us remember, the Indonesian
Museum of Records (MURI) has awarded certificates to people who
set records in some human endeavor or because of coincidence.

The unique museum is located in Semarang, the capital of
Central Java, although it has a branch in the Beautiful Indonesia
Miniature Park, in Jakarta. The Museum's director and founder is
Djaya Suprana, a well-known jamu (herbal drink) entrepreneur and
a pianist turned entertainer in his own right.

In a ceremony at the state palace recently, President
Abdurrahman Wahid was awarded the title of "the most traveled
person within the shortest time". The woman with the longest
hair, the man who can imitate animal sounds, the tallest and the
shortest persons and individuals who had made outstanding
achievement in the field of sports, scientific experiments,
technical innovations and artistic feats were among those
receiving certificates from the museum.

The museum probably also runs a kind of Hall of Fame, for the
nation's pioneers and leaders. Of course if you want to see the
rare Komodo lizard alive, you need to travel to the Komodo island
or to the zoo, not to the MURI of records. In a sense it should
inspire people to appreciate what is unique in life and try to
achieve something different, something extraordinary positive and
useful for society.

Now, most of The Jakarta Post readers are aware that I have
been sending letters as a means of information, social criticisms
and sometimes entertaining stuff to the Post for more than 30
months each week practically unbroken which found their way into
the letters column, thanks to the cooperation of the editorial
staff. I have written about 150 letters until now.

MURI's secretary phoned me from Semarang the other day saying
that the museum board considers this letter-writing "journalism"
to be record breaking in itself which will be recorded in the
museum. Of course I feel flattered and it should inspire me to
continue writing until I reach the three years stress.

A certificate acknowledging the record will be handed to me,
according to the MURI. What I do really hope from the bottom of
my heart is that the readers will continue to enjoy reading my
scribbles and to make these an international achievement
(recognition). Please, do not laugh!

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta