Why Indonesia Wants to Rewrite Its History: Culture Minister's Explanation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The project to rewrite Indonesian history has sparked considerable debate. This project is being presented as a "gift" to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of Indonesia's Independence Day on August 17, 2025.

Culture Minister Fadli Zon has announced that the history rewrite project is slated for completion by the upcoming Independence Day. The revised history will encompass 11 volumes, developed from a unified draft by a team of 113 writers from diverse academic backgrounds, supported by 20 volume editors and three general editors.

The project, with a budget of Rp9 billion, has received approval during the Working Meeting between the Culture Ministry and Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI). Fadli Zon emphasized that the urgency of this project lies in its aim to eliminate colonial bias in historical narratives.

"History rewriting is no longer a choice, but a necessity," said Fadli Zon, as quoted from the Ministry of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform website. This necessity is also driven by the goal of strengthening national identity among the younger generation in the face of globalization.

Hetifah Sjaifudian, Chairwoman of Commission X of DPR RI, affirmed that rewriting history is a governmental responsibility in shaping the nation's collective memory. Once the draft reaches 70 percent completion, it will undergo a public review process.

Fadli Zon Cites 26-Year 'Historical Vacancy'

Fadli Zon explained that this project is important because Indonesia has been "missing" for more than 26 years in terms of a comprehensive national history. He measures this absence from the lack of a national history writing program, which has ultimately led to a "half-baked" historical record.

"We cannot continue to pass on incomplete history to the next generation," he said, as reported by the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform website on May 28, 2025.

During these 26 years, Fadli believes that many new discoveries about Indonesian history need to be included in the official record. By rewriting history, the public, especially the younger generation, can learn new information from the perspectives of local experts and archaeologists, rather than just from Western viewpoints.

"The purpose of this writing is to produce a book that is 'official history' with a national focus and interest, to increase national pride and love for the country," as written in the Concept Framework for Writing Indonesian History draft. 

To address this gap, the Culture Ministry is also working with the Indonesian Historians Society (MSI). The Chair of MSI, Agus Mulyana, also said that there are still many historical narratives that are incomplete or incorrect, making this history rewrite project necessary.

Haura Hamidah contributed to the writing of this article.

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