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)