PALANGKA RAYA – EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION BUREAU. The Assistant for Government and People’s Welfare Katma F. Dirun, representing the Provincial Secretary of Central Kalimantan, attended the Coordination Meeting Inter-Agency and Expert in Implementing the Regional Language Protection Model, located at Bahalap Hotel, Palangka Raya on Friday (17/6/2022).

This coordination meeting is the first agenda in a series of activities for the Merdeka Learning program on the revitalization of regional languages. To note, in Central Kalimantan, there are 4 languages ​​that will be revitalized in 2022, namely Dayak Ngaju, Dayak Maanyan, Uut Danum, and Malay Kotawaringin dialect.

While reading the remarks of the Provincial Secretary of Central Kalimantan, Assistant for Government and People’s Welfare Katma F. Dirun revealed that the Central Kalimantan Provincial Government supports efforts to protect and preserve regional languages.

“The Central Kalimantan Provincial Government opens the door wide to initiate and realize efforts to protect and preserve regional languages ​​and literature. Regency and municipality governments throughout Central Kalimantan must also support these efforts by doing the same thing,” he said.

On the occasion, the Assistant said that language is one of the cultural assets that is protected by law.

“Extraordinary and invaluable cultural wealth will be lost in time if it is not managed and maintained properly as stated in Article 42 of Law Number 24 of 2009 concerning the State Flag, Language and Emblem, as well as the National Anthem which mandates that “The responsibility for protecting, preserving, developing and fostering regional languages ​​and literature is the responsibility of the regional government,” said the Assistant.

Furthermore, the Assistant invites the younger generation to recognize and understand regional languages ​​better.

“Revitalization activities for regional languages ​​are carried out to put regional languages ​​back in their proper realm. The community and the younger generation that are the target of this activity must better recognize and understand their language and culture,” he said.

The Assistant encourages all parties to jointly protect and preserve the culture and language of the Central Kalimantan region.

“The regional culture and language in Central Kalimantan Province must not be lost. Therefore, of course, it is the duty and responsibility of all of us to jointly protect and preserve it,” concluded the Assistant.

Being present at this event were the Secretary of the Language Development and Supervision Agency, Hafids Muksin, of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, the Central Kalimantan Inspector Saring, and the Head of Language Center Valentina Lovina Tanate. (rik/fen/transl.feb)