The Ministry of Culture has allocated a budget of Rp9 billion (US$551,000) for a major national project to rewrite Indonesia’s history books. 

Cultural Affairs Minister Fadli Zon has confirmed that the funds have already been approved and disbursed through the state budget (APBN).

“The funding is from the APBN. It’s all settled, and we informed the DPR (House of Representatives) about it seven months ago,” Fadli said as quoted by Antara on Sunday, June 1, 2025.

The revised history book is scheduled for public review by July 2025. According to Fadli, the project involves a broad team of contributors, including 113 writers, 20 volume editors, and three general editors. The team includes historians and academics from across Indonesia − ranging from Aceh to Papua − specializing in archaeology, geography, history, and the humanities.

The effort, Fadli cited, is designed to be inclusive and centered on an "Indonesia-centric" perspective. It will cover the nation's history from its early beginnings through the colonial era, the independence struggle, the reformasi period, and the modern electoral era.

The project began in January 2025 and is expected to be completed by August 2025. Fadli stressed the importance of this initiative for helping younger generation better understand their nation's past.

“Updating our history books is essential for shaping the national identity and collective memory of our people,” he said.

During a hearing on May 26, 2025, Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Ministry of Culture agreed that the rewriting process must involve more stakeholders from the historical community to ensure the final work is objective, comprehensive, and representative of Indonesia’s diverse collective memory.

Additionally, Commission X urged the ministry to improve communication and public outreach regarding the project to avoid misunderstandings or perceptions that the history is being rewritten from a single, government-dominated perspective.