Betawi urged to help make election a success

Betawi urged to help make election a success

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja has called on the
Betawi (indigenous Jakartans) to help make next year's general
election a success.

"I believe, God willing, Jakartans can be instrumental in
making the general election a success," Surjadi said in his
keynote address at the national Betawi congress here over the
weekend.

On the occasion the governor also noted with delight that
various aspects of Betawi life have been acclaimed nationally and
internationally.

Surjadi mentioned the annual Abang (Mr) and None (Miss) Jakarta,
the traditional Betawi wedding rituals and dances, like the Ondel
ondel, Gambang Kromong, Tandjidor, and the traditional martial
art of Pencak silat.

The religious, down-to-earth nature of Betawi people, known
for their sense of humor, constitutes a valuable national asset,
he said.

The governor said that Betawi people have played a pivotal
role here ever since the country's struggle for independence. He
praised the Betawi national hero MH Thamrin and a number of
ulemas for fighting poverty and ignorance by setting up pesantren
(Islamic boarding schools).

Surjadi also thanked Betawi people for their help in winning
the Adipura award this year. The award is presented annually to
the city considered the cleanest and most orderly.

However despite all these success stories Jakarta has a lot of
shortcomings as a metropolis, he said.

"There are still many people who fall victim to the rapid pace
of national development. Therefore I urge the congress to
formulate various ways and means to tackle the problems in
cooperation with the city administration," he said. (bas)