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