L

ampung Governor Sjachroedin Z.P. says he wants to erect a new statue of his father after a mob tore down an existing monument to the former governor on April 30.

Sjachroedin said that donations collected from local leaders would be used to erect a replacement statue for his father, Zainal Abidin Pagaralam, away from the monument’s original site in Kalianda, South Lampung.

“The statue is estimated to cost around Rp 1.5 billion [US$176,000]. None of the funds will come from the regional budget,” Sjachroedin said over the weekend.

Sjachroedin said that Zainal was the first native of Lampung to become governor of the province after it separated from South Sumatra. “It’s natural if traditional Lampung figures are motivated to donate money to build the statue,” he said.

“Traditional leaders strongly wish for the statue to be rebuilt, but without using budgetary funds. The construction finds will come from traditional figures who sympathize with Zainal Abidin’s devoted
service to the province, and we, as his extended family, are pleased about it. However, we will object if it is still built in Kalianda,” Sjachroedin said.

The demolition of the statue of Zainal, who is also South Lampung Regent Rycko Menoza’s grandfather, has remained a hot topic of discussion in Lampung.

Several local community figures have expressed regret about the statue’s destruction on Facebook
social network.

Andi Arief, a staff expert for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, wrote: “If the current Lampung governor or the South Lampung regent build statues of themselves, I’m opposed to it and want them demolished. But we can learn, emulate and reflect on the past from the statue. Why should it be torn down?”

Another local figure, Sepli Eliyas Tuan Ratu Marga, also voiced opposition to the statue’s destruction.

“We are very upset and offended. Why must the statue of Zainal Abidin, a symbol of history and a principal traditional figure who has no relation with current issues, be a target of lawlessness?” Sepli said.

According to the Lampung Police, the decision to demolish the statue, which was erected in February this year, was agreed to by the South Lampung Police chief, the South Lampung Legislative Council and several provincial officials.

Lampung Police spokeman Adj. Sr. Comr. Sulistyaningsih said dectives were on the case.

“We will investigate the act of vandalism that led to the damage of a number of public facilities, such as the local district court and religious office,” Sulistyaningsih said.