RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is moving forward with plans to establish a memorial museum dedicated to Mohammad Hatta, the country’s founding Vice President and one of the key figures behind its independence. The initiative was discussed during a meeting between Indonesia's Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon and representatives of the Bung Hatta Foundation in Jakarta, Wednesday, 3 June 2026.

The planned Bung Hatta Memorial Museum will be located in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, the hometown of the national leader. The project aims to preserve Hatta’s legacy while promoting civic education and national values for future generations.

During the meeting, Fadli welcomed the foundation’s proposal to transform an unused building into a museum. He said the initiative aligns with the government’s broader effort to repurpose underutilized state-owned properties for cultural and educational purposes.

According to the minister, the Ministry of Culture has already begun converting vacant government-owned buildings into museums dedicated to film and music. He noted that similar approaches could be applied to support the development of the Bung Hatta Memorial Museum.

“We have also begun efforts to utilize assets owned by state-owned enterprises and other government institutions, including vacant buildings, to be converted into museums such as a film museum and a music museum,” Fadli said.

Meanwhile, Bung Hatta Foundation Chairman, Maizar Rahman, expressed the organization’s commitment to supporting the museum project. He said the foundation is prepared to contribute museum collections voluntarily and hopes philanthropists will also support the initiative.

The proposed museum site is located within a property managed by Indonesia’s state-owned energy company Pertamina. Fadli encouraged broader cooperation involving public institutions, private stakeholders, and philanthropic organizations to ensure the museum’s long-term sustainability.

The Ministry of Culture also plans to engage Pertamina’s leadership and explore the establishment of a Board of Trustees in cooperation with Danantara Indonesia Trust to strengthen governance of the future memorial heritage site. Officials hope the museum will become an important educational center that promotes the values of leadership, nationalism, and public service embodied by Mohammad Hatta.