Tito Karnavian breaks ground on National Language Monument in Pulau Penyengat

Indonesian Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the National Language Museum and Monument on Pulau Penyengat, Tanjungpinang, on September 24, 2026. Accompanied by Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad, the project aims to document the historical roots of the Indonesian language, which originates from Malay.

The monument serves as a systematic record of the linguistic evolution that shaped Indonesia's national identity. Minister Karnavian noted that the site will be a significant legacy for the people of Penyengat, Indonesia, and the broader Malay-speaking community in Malaysia and Singapore. He also urged that the project continue steadily regardless of future changes in regional leadership.

The construction project, managed by PT Humindo Cipta Mandiri, has a contract value of Rp99.9 billion. Physical preparation for the site was already underway prior to the official ceremony, which concluded the 24th anniversary celebrations of the Riau Islands province.