BANGKA -- Maintaining the existence of indigenous peoples is part of PT Timah Tbk's efforts to carry out cultural preservation. PT Timah Tbk together with the community in Air Abik Hamlet, Gunung Muda Village, Riau Silip District, Bangka Regency built the Gebong Memarong Traditional Village.
Memarong is a typical house of the Mapur indigenous people. However, over time, this house began to be challenging to find. For this reason, PT Timah Tbk is committed to supporting the preservation of the customs of the Mapur indigenous people.
In building the Gebong Memarong Traditional Village, PT Timah Tbk collaborated with the Mapur Traditional Institute and the people of Air Abik Village.
After several months of construction, the opening of the Gebong Memarong Traditional Village with PT Timah Tbk was held, marked by the beating of the gong by PT Timah Tbk HR Director Yennita, Tuesday (21/3/2023).
This activity was also attended by the Director of the KMA Ministry of Education and Culture Sjamsul Hadi, Coordinator of Mineral Commercial Relations of the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Imam Bustan Pramudiya, Assistant III of the Provincial Government of the Bangka Belitung Islands, Yunan Helmi, Cultural activist Akhmad Elvian, cultural activists and literacy communities, Chairman of the Malay Traditional Institute, Sarnubi, indigenous peoples and community leaders.
The inaugural opening of the Gebong Memarong Traditional Village with PT Timah Tbk carries the theme 'Conserving the Culture of Sustainable Social Investment for Prosperity and Independence of Mapur Indigenous People'.
After this opening, the Gebong Memarong Traditional Village was opened for people who want to learn about and get to know the customs of the Mapur indigenous people. In addition to the typical houses, there is also an introduction to the crafts of the Mapur indigenous people.
HR Director of PT Timah Tbk, Yennita said PT Timah Tbk continues to be committed to carrying out social and environmental responsibility, such as the development of public and socio-cultural infrastructure in a sustainable and integrated manner by the SDGs principles. PT Timah Tbk takes a special role and pays attention to programs that have a distinctive allure, and ethnic nuance, especially the preservation of cultural customs.
"The development of cultural objects based on cultural heritage sources is an effective means of preserving and caring for the culture and local wisdom of the community. Apart from being an asset and cultural heritage, it can also provide enormous opportunities for the development of tourism, arts, religion, and local culture," said Yennita.
He said, Gebong Memarong Traditional Village as a symbol of the existence of the Mapur people who have local wisdom values ??must continue to have a position and space so that it does not just disappear. Because local wisdom and cultural traditions of the Mapur people are a wealth, treasure, and potential in the development of civilization.
"The community's readiness to support cultural programs has also been prepared by PT Timah Tbk for indigenous peoples through capacity building in the form of training and mentoring for the Mapur indigenous people so that they have the ability and skills to weave and process local wisdom-based woven into world-wide traditional handicraft products with the best export quality," he continued.
Gebong Memarong Traditional Village is an Indigenous People Development and Empowerment program that is expected to increase the economic independence of the Mapur people in Air Abik Hamlet.
Coordinator of Commercial Relations for Mineral, Directorate General of Mineral and Coal at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Imam Bustan Pramudya, said that PT Timah Tbk had carried out its social responsibility by collaborating with indigenous peoples by implementing the Community Development and Empowerment program.
"We are proud and appreciative of what PT Timah Tbk has done which has carried out the mandate given to mining companies to carry out the Community Development and Empowerment program including the preservation of indigenous peoples. This is also included in the aspect of improving the community's economy," he said.
According to him, mining companies not only utilize natural resources but must also be committed to supporting the welfare of indigenous peoples.
Director of Belief in the One and Only God and Indigenous Peoples, Ministry of Education and Culture, Ristek Dikti, Sjamsul Hadi, appreciated PT Timah Tbk for giving attention to indigenous peoples.
"PT Timah Tbk has carried out the mandate of the Cultural Progress Act and the constitutional mandate of the 1945 Constitution to pay attention to indigenous peoples. We really appreciate PT Timah Tbk's commitment," he said.
Meanwhile, the Regent of Bangka Mulkan appreciates the commitment of PT Timah Tbk which has supported the preservation of adat not only by building facilities and infrastructure but also by preserving its cultural values ??so that they are well maintained.
"Thank you to PT Timah Tbk for supporting and contributing to building facilities and infrastructure. Not only that, but also supporting the preservation of the customs of the Mapur people. This is extraordinary, before there was only one memorong, now there are seven merongs," he said.
Realizing the Dreams of Indigenous Peoples
The customary leader of Air Abik Atok Usang Gedoy said that finally, the seven Gebong Memarongs in the Gebong Memarong Traditional Village were standing.
He said that in the past they only dreamed of building Gebong Memarong so they could introduce the younger generation to where the Mapur indigenous people live.
"Initially, only one Memarong was built and it was self-help by the community. Because we want to introduce to the community and young people this is a traditional house with the various activities of our parents before, so they know and do not forget this local wisdom," said the man who is often called Abok.
They were very happy and enthusiastic when PT Timah Tbk played a role in helping to realize their dream of building the Gebong Memarong Traditional Village and which has been established today.
Abok said seven Memarong ridges were being built in the Gebong Memarong Traditional Village, namely four Memarongs that would be used for lodging, one Memarong for a gallery, one for a museum, and one for a traditional hall.
The Gebong Memarong Traditional Village will later also become a training center for indigenous peoples to make crafts, traditional medicine, and various local pearls of wisdom that are still being preserved.
"PT Timah Tbk has been extraordinary in realizing our dream of having the Gebong Memarong Traditional Village. Apart from being assisted for development, the community is trained in making crafts with the help of non-woven machine tools and other coaching programs," he said.
"We will care for, maintain and develop this so that it is maintained so that our children and grandchildren know and participate in preserving this culture," he continued.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Mapur Asih Harmoko Traditional Institute said, in the future, the Gebong Memarong Traditional Village will be open to the public two days a week.
"Later it will be opened and we will develop it. For example for various activities such as training in making crafts. Then we are also ready to welcome tourists who want to get to know the customs of the Mapur people," said Asih.
Furthermore, Asih said, his party appreciates PT Timah Tbk which supports the preservation of customs so that the Gebong Memarong Traditional Village is built.
"Starting from scratch, PT Timah Tbk supported and coached us so that we can be what we are today. It only remains for us to develop it with what PT Timah Tbk has built. So that this can continue to live and have an economic impact on our society," he said. (*)
