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West Sumatra Palace Destroyed by Fire

Main Article: Palace Reconstruction

National News - March 01 2007

Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post, Padang

Basa Pagaruyung Palace, one of West Sumatra's major tourism icons, was gutted by fire Tuesday. The palace functioned as a Minangkabau traditional museum in Pagaruyung village in Tanjung Emas district, Tanah Datar.

The burning of the ill-fated palace, a remake of the Pagaruyung Kingdom palace that was burned by soldiers of the Dutch colonial administration in 1804, was caused by lightning that struck one of the building's 11 rooftops.

Known locally as gonjong, the rooftops resembled a buffalo's horns.

The burning gonjong collapsed, landing on a nearby roof made of palm fiber. The fire then spread throughout the remaining segments of the building. Four fire engines were unable to extinguish the fire after spray from water-guns failed to reach the 60-meter-high rooftops.

The number of fire engines was later increased to 11, with units being deployed from Padang and Bukittinggi, but the fire could still not be contained.

Nearly all parts of the timber-constructed palace were gutted by 11:30 p.m.. All that remained was the building's iron-reinforced concrete frame.

The palace's roofs were constructed using 26 tons of palm fiber. Minangkabau crafts adorned its walls. The building, which was construction by the West Sumatra provincial administration in 1976, was managed by the provincial tourism office.

The palace was once used as a venue for the presentation of Pagaruyung Palace nobility awards to noted national figures. These have included President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, Negeri Sembilan King Tuanku Ja'afar bin Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Yogyakarta's Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and the head of the Supreme Audit Agency, Anwar Nasution.

Tanah Datar's regent, M. Sadiq Pasadique, said Wednesday he was unsure of the total losses caused by the fire. "For sure it is countless because it was a historic building that housed many historical materials. But we, together with the provincial administration, are determined to rebuild it," he said.

The palace, Sadiq said, had been insured with PT Asuransi Wahana Tata for Rp 3.37 billion (US$354,736).

"However, the insurance amount is too small compared to the funds needed for reconstruction ... that's why we invite the public to contribute," he said.

Heir to the Pagaruyung Kingdom, Pemangku Daulat Yang Dipertuan Sutan Muhammad Taufik Thaib Tuanku Mudo Mahkota Alam, was shocked when informed of the fire.

"We, the heirs of the Pagaruyung Kingdom, were shocked and saddened to see the disappearance of the symbol of dignity among the Minangkabau people and a major tourism and cultural asset in West Sumatra. We demand the reconstruction of the building with the help of all levels of the community, both in kampongs and others living in other cities, as well as the government," he said.

Sutan Muhammad Taufid Thaib said, however, that despite the fire not all of the kingdom's historical possessions were destroyed. Many items were stored at Si Linduang Bulan Palace, about 2 kilometers from the site of the fire.

"Alhamdulillah (Thank God) all other properties are still safe," he said.

Original Article linked here.

January 11th, 2009 by Staff

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