VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Perpusnas Hearing session on the house of representative building (perpusnas) -  

In a hearing meeting (RDP) with a single agenda for adjusting the Budget Work Plans of Ministries/Agencies (K/L), Commission X of the DPR RI expressed full support for the National Library. A number of notes were submitted by Commission X of the DPR RI for the National Library, including optimizing the use of the budget so that it is right on target and collaborating with other ministries and institutions to increase national literacy.

Deputy Chairman of Commission X of the DPR RI, Dede Yusuf, said that the amount of the definitive budget ceiling had not changed according to the budget proposal submitted by Commission X of the DPR RI to the DPR RI Budget Agency. However, the proposed additional ceiling was not approved by the Ministry of Finance.

"We must be able to understand that, because the current budget focuses on refocusing on handling the Covid-19 pandemic, and also restoring the national economy," he said in the RDP which was held in a hybrid manner on Monday (20/9/2021).

Despite receiving a limited budget allocation, the National Library of Indonesia already has a well-thought-out plan to encourage literacy acceleration.

"Literacy is an important thing to inherit a civilization. If we remember that there was a fairy tale book about Sangkuriang, Malin Kundang, I hope it doesn't get swallowed up by the earth because this is part of civilization. Don't just focus on practical literacy books but books that contain the value of civilization continues to be maintained," he continued.

According to a rlease received byy Voice of Indonesia Monday (20/09/21), The Head of the National Library of Indonesia Muhammad Syarif Bando said that the National Library was exploring cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Culture to support Distance Learning (PJJ). All learning materials will be digitized so that they can be accessed through iPusnas, Indonesia One Search and Khastara.

"It is an opportunity for students to get access to reading materials. So that learning materials can be viewed in the National Library of Indonesia's digital library," he said.

Syarif Bando asserted, the problem of the ratio of the population to the books published each year is very far away. According to UNESCO, ideally three new books per person every year, but the conditions in Indonesia are waiting for one book 90 people.

"With all the budget constraints, we publish books that are characteristic of the colors of our civilization. Such as the Lontar manuscript, the Panji manuscript from East Java, and the Diponegoro Chronicle manuscript. We ask for the attention of Commission X so that the National Library of Indonesia gets an additional budget," he concluded.

Syarif Bando also expressed his readiness to implement all the suggestions and views of Commission X DPR RI//VOI-NK