Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian government will revise Indonesia's historical records, Minister of Culture Fadli Zon said this after meeting with the Indonesian Historians Society or MSI in Bandung on Saturday, December 14, 2024.

"Indonesia's historical records will be updated based on the results of studies by historical experts. We will soon write an updated version or revised additions to our history books in the context of Indonesia's 80th Anniversary of Independence," said Fadli.

According to Fadli, one example of the revision that will be carried out is the prehistoric era. Based on the latest research, he said, the history of civilization in the Indonesian region is actually older than what has been studied so far.

"There are new findings, for example the latest research in our prehistory such as the Leang-Leang Maros Cave which was previously thought to be 5,000 years old turned out to be 40,000-52,000 years old, that must be added. If there is nothing new, we will continue," said Fadli.

In the same place, MSI General Chair Agus Mulyana said the historical revision in question was related to data and findings from the latest historical or archaeological research to provide positive energy to the nation, especially self-confidence.

"Sometimes we lack confidence in terms of history. In fact, according to the results of historical heritage research, our prehistoric period is much longer, further back than other countries that we know, for example Egypt, then countries in Europe, well that's where updating is needed," said Agus.

The Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Education UPI said that the updating of historical records would also target the colonial period in the Indonesian region, including the length of time the Indonesian region was colonized.

"Not all regions were 350 years, but the VOC or Dutch rule was a process. Aceh alone, this is an example, in the 1920s and even the 1930s Aceh had not been conquered, meaning it was not colonized. I think this also needs reinterpretation, that we are not a defeated nation," said Agus.

Agus said that the revision will also be carried out by targeting the periodization of history which currently has 10 volumes with the historical period until the reform era.

"We hope there will be a periodization. We will continue it until the current period of the Prabowo era. God willing, we are ready to be involved, because for MSI, writing this history is an important momentum," he said.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1953007/indonesian-govt-to-revise-historical-records-culture-minister-say