'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.