'Regular visitors are students, foreign tourists'

'Regular visitors are students, foreign tourists'

Innovative programs have been launched by the Jakarta Historical
Museum, or Fatahillah Museum, in West Jakarta to lure more
visitors. The Puppet Museum and the Maritime Museum plan to
follow suit next year. The Jakarta Post asked some museum
visitors what they thought of the programs and of the city's
museums in general.

Rina, 24, is a student at Trisakti University in West Jakarta.
She lives in Tomang, West Jakarta, with her family:

I visit museums to collect information for assignments given
by my lecturers.

But basically I'm keen on museums because we can learn about
the past and its impact on modern-day life.

Visiting museums teaches me so much more than a reading
textbook does.

I actually prefer museums than shopping centers.

I think my family's interest in museums led me to also love
museums. Besides, visiting a museum helps my younger brother
broad his knowledge too.

However, not many people seem interested and there appears to
be a real lack of public enthusiasm in museums.

Ibrahim, 35, works in Cijantung, East Jakarta, and lives in
Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta, with his wife and two children:

In all honestly it was because of my eldest son, who is in
third grade at elementary school, that I first went to a museum.

I offered to take him to the museum when I was unable to
answer his questions about the truth behind the treachery of the
Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) after watching footage on
television. Since then we have spent most of our leisure time at
museums.

Visiting a museum is an effective way of learning. It's useful
for parents to help with their children's education. I learn a
lot and I can anticipate their questions. Above all, my children
also learn many things.

I regret that many museums in the city are not well
maintained, though I understand it is due to financial
constraints.

Most visitors usually go through the museum without a tour
guide to explain the artifacts or their history to them.

Worse still, I don't believe society realizes that museums can
be an effective learning tool.

Muchtar, 39, is a Fatahillah Museum worker and soft drink
seller. He lives in Kali Deres, West Jakarta, with friends:

It is important to know and learn how our late heroes fought
for the freedom of the country. Textbook learning alone is not
enough.

In a museum, we can learn many things about our history. I
feel sad whenever I see the poor condition of the artifacts and
replicas.

When I was assigned to maintain the basement dungeons in the
museum, I always felt upset during the daily clean up of the
place. I can't imagine a prisoner being submerged in water up to
the neck.

Students with history assignments are the only regular
visitors, and foreign tourists who are genuinely interested in
our history. Youths and other city residents rarely visit the
museum.

However, I'm happy to see the improvements to the museum. It
shows that the curator cares much about it.

Now it's very clean and more attractive compared to the first
time I worked here seven years ago.

-- Leo Wahyudi S.