Did you know that a significant portion of the gold coating the flame at the peak of Monas was donated by a wealthy merchant from Aceh? Teuku Markam, a successful entrepreneur during President Soekarno's era, donated 28 kilograms of gold out of the total 38 kilograms present during the initial construction of Monas.
The flame symbolizes the burning and undying spirit of the Indonesian nation's struggle. This flame structure is made of bronze which was then coated with pure gold sheets. Over time, in 1995, this gold coating was increased to 50 kilograms to strengthen its resistance to weather. This story of generosity stands as proof of the community's mutual cooperation in building the nation's symbol of pride.