TEMPO.CO, Belitung - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Marie Elka Pangestu and her entourage were confronted by topless children who only wore shorts and their bodies covered in mud when entering the Andrea Hirata Museum in the province of Bangka Belitung. Among the minister’s group was Belitung Regent Basuri Tjahaja Purnama.
The groups were forced to stop. When Regent Basuri asked whether they could go through, the child, Yubi, shook his head. The regent then asked again if they could go through the side, but the child said no.
However, after being persuaded, Marie and her group were finally granted access to the museum. A few members of the group even took pictures with the child.
Tomy R, a museum staffer, said the child’s act was not by scenario, but rather spontaneous. But the other children were part of a scenario that played a role as a tin miners.
Andrea Hirata, the author of best-selling novel Laskar Pelangi, greeted the minister in front of the museum and accompanied her to look around the museum.
Mari Elka said she was appreciative of Andrea Hirata's works and movies, which have helped promote the tourism sector in Belitung to both local and international audiences.
RUSLAN BURHANI
