Malay History at The Raja Ali Haji Museum

In this museum there is a history of melahyu culture until the founding of the city of batam, Riau Islands province (kepri). the raja ali haji museum is located in the engku putri square complex, batam center. this area is the center of government in the middle of the city of batam. now the museum is a destination for local and foreign tourists.

The Origin of Raja Ali Haji Museum
The Raja Ali Haji Museum is right in the building of the former national MTQ XXV grand event in 2014. After the MTQ, the building was not used. Two years ago, the building was converted as one of the Raja Ali Haji Museum tourist attractions. From a distance, the museum looks like a mosque building, because it has several domes and minarets. Likewise, the overall style of the building is white. The front of the museum also has a historic pulpit for the 2014 National MTQ.

At the entrance visitors are greeted with a wooden miniature Dutch-flagged ship. This ship looks like a Dutch warship, the left and right parts of which have cannons. “This is indeed a Dutch ship, which was destroyed by the Lingga kingdom for violating a trade agreement,” said Putra, one of the Raja Ali Haji Museum officers.

To explore the museum, visitors only need to fill out a guest book. The museum building is elongated and curved. Visitors can start exploring from the left or right of the hallway. Before entering the hallway there are also several objects of Malay historical heritage.

Such as the Lilin Sambang object, which is used when the bride-to-be soaks in the wedding procession. Then there is also a replica of Nasi Besar, which is rice served in a large celebration to signify the subtlety of the Malay character. Then there is also Bangkeng or Rukop, this tool is useful as a wardrobe for women and many other historical objects.

Throughout the hallway-shaped building, old photos of Batam City’s history are displayed on the walls. Starting from photos of Malay figures, historical objects to photos of Batam conditions in the past. On each photo there is a brief explanation in Indonesian and English.

Raja Ali Haji Museum was first opened to the public on Friday (18/12/2020), coinciding with Batam’s 191st birthday. The museum building was formerly built for the 2014 National MTQ Astaka event in Batam, until it finally switched functions. The Soft Opening of the museum was marked by the opening of the curtain of the face sketch of Raja Isa bin Raja Ali or Nong Isa, the first person trusted by the Dutch Government to lead Batam Island.

“In this museum there is a special segment that tells the story of Nong Isa, the first person to rule Batam City. There are no photos of him, we try to sketch Raja Isa from the family, changes in sketching almost 40 times until the current agreement. During independence, administrative municipality, there is a segment of BJ Habibie such as the phone he used, laptop to a copy of his appointment letter as Chairman of the Batam Authority which is currently BP Batam. Then Batam became an administrative municipality, and there is a segment of Batam autonomy in 1999, “he explained.

Use the Barcode to Know the Meaning of Museum Collections
Several intact historical relics are displayed along the hallway. Uniquely, there is no explanation about these historical objects. However, there is a barcode complete with the government logo on the left and right. “How to see the description of the object through the barcode, visitors must first barcode using their respective smartphones,” said Putra.

“The collection on display in this museum is the history of Batam’s journey. Starting from the time of Nong Isa, in the Riau-Lingga Sultanate, the entry of the Batam Authority, the establishment of administrative government until it develops as it is today. Nong Isa himself was the recipient of the mandate of Sultan Abdul Rahman Muazzam Syah of the Sultanate of Lingga, to rule the Nongsa area and its surroundings on December 18, 1829,” said Head of Culture and Tourism Office, Ardiwinata, last week.

The Raja Ali Haji Museum collection, Batam also displays a small collection of Malay culture, namely displaying musical instruments such as Erhu, a musical instrument that at first glance looks like a Rebab played by swiping. Then Kompang is a kind of traditional musical instrument that is most famous among the Malay community.

Raja Ali Haji Museum Batam itself presents a collection of Batam development from the Riau-Lingga sultanate period to the current development of Batam. The development of Batam is also inseparable from the role of the third President of Indonesia, BJ Habibie, who made the landscape of Batam development into an industrial city to rival Singapore.

Then there is Marwas, a traditional musical instrument that is played by tapping. Child drums are used to accompany dances. Accordion is one type of musical instrument accompanying Malay songs in Indonesia, especially Riau Islands. then Cogan is one of the regalia or regalia owned by the Kingdom of Johor Riau Lingga Pahang and Jong in the form of a boat or miniature sail that moves with the wind.

In addition, the collection of Malay culture owned by the Batam museum is Malay traditional clothing, Bangkeng where Malay wedding clothes are stored. then there is a Makyong mask.

“In addition to musical instruments there are also various types of tanjak, such as tanjak balung raja, revenge tak already then there is tudung mantu for mothers or Malay women. This Makyong mask is an intangible cultural heritage in Panjang Island, Batam,” he said.

Raja Ali Haji Museum also has a collection of cannons from the Dutch and photos of the Japanese monument (Missebo) in Pasir Merah Village, Batam. Rempang-Galang Island was once a shelter for 112,708 Japanese soldiers captured by allies in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia in 1945-1946. “Raja Ali Haji is a universal category museum. Its presence aims to stimulate and motivate other parties to establish thematic museums such as cultural museums or industrial museums,” said Ardiwinata.

Great Expectations for Museums
With various concrete steps that have been taken to realize local government museum management, various hopes are also pinned on the establishment of the Raja Ali Haji Museum.

“First, we hope that the construction of this museum can be an example to develop more museums in Batam City, especially thematic museums. And secondly, as the biggest gift for the implementation of PPKD, we hope that this museum will be a source of inspiration for all parties, especially cultural actors in Batam City, to be able to continue to develop their cultural expressions with full commitment and support from the government as part of the Promotion of Culture in Batam City,” concluded Ardiwinata.