Jakarta, July 4, 2025 – The Europe Today: Speaker of Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR), Puan Maharani, has called on the Ministry of Culture to ensure that no historical facts are omitted or distorted in the government’s ongoing initiative to revise the national history.
Speaking at the Parliamentary Complex in Jakarta on Thursday, Maharani stressed the importance of preserving historical truth and transparency.
“We must respect and acknowledge that writing history should be done as clearly and transparently as possible, without disadvantaging any party or erasing their historical footprint,” she stated.
Her comments were made in response to Culture Minister Fadli Zon’s decision to proceed with the national history rewriting project, despite growing concerns and calls from several lawmakers to delay or suspend the initiative.
“Let’s see how it will go,” Maharani remarked, indicating that the process would be closely monitored.
She emphasized that all historical facts—especially those surrounding sensitive and pivotal events such as the political transition of 1998—must be preserved and respected.
Referencing the state address of Indonesia’s third president, B.J. Habibie, Maharani highlighted the significance of maintaining facts already acknowledged in the country’s official records.
“We should adhere to the facts of 1998, as acknowledged by President Habibie in his address,” she noted.
Maharani further cautioned against the exclusion of verified historical information, particularly when such facts have been recognized by academic and historical communities.
“If certain facts are dismissed as unnecessary, is that truly accurate? As many historians have noted, facts—especially those presented by a president—must be acknowledged as part of our national narrative,” she concluded.
The government’s revision of the national history remains a subject of active debate among lawmakers, scholars, and civil society, with concerns centered on historical accuracy, inclusivity, and national identity.
