Because polluted by the air from exhaust vehicle, lidah api on the top of Monumen Nasional (Monas) that covered by 22 carat gold now become dull. Besides air pollution, the dull is also caused it never been cleaned.

Physically, there is discoloration. It absolutely decreases in gold content

Cultural Heritage Conservation Expert, Jakarta Tourism and Culture Department, Hubertus Sabirin said, the decline in the gold content because the carbon monoxide contains from the air pollution in the Capital. The contains make corrosion in all iron surface that covered by the gold and finally becomes dull.

"Now, if we touch our hand to the Monas gold, absolutely our hand become dark because it never gets cleaned," said Hubertus, Friday (10/24).

Hubertus added, even there is no investigation yet related the contain of the gold content on the top of Monas, but it is visible that the lidah api experience the discoloration.

" Physically, there is discoloration. It absolutely decreases in gold content ," he uttered.

Head of Monas Area Management (UP), Rini Hariyani admitted that lidah api condition on the top of Monas becomes dull because it never be cleaned since the first built. Because of that, it possible if the gold content decreases.

"The usual gold on our hand slowly thinner, it same with that (Monas gold-red)," she said.

Rini added that she cannot do much to solve the problem of lidah api. Beside no budget, the cleaning process needs special expert to clean the gold cover.

"Minimally we must ask the gold expert, so in the cleaning process, the gold not become fade," she added.