Black Floral Wreath from KDM Steals the Spotlight at Jakarta's 499th Anniversary

Dozens of floral wreaths marking the 499th anniversary of Jakarta lined the area around the DKI Jakarta City Hall on Monday (22/6). The wreaths came from various government agencies, regional-owned enterprises (BUMD), private companies, community organisations, and public figures, all conveying congratulations to the capital. The messages displayed expressed hopes that Jakarta will continue to develop as an inclusive, competitive, and comfortable global city for all its residents. Among the rows of wreaths, one particularly caught the eye. A wreath with a black board and white lettering stood out. It was sent by West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi, known as Kang Dedi Mulyadi (KDM). “Happy 499th Anniversary to the City of Jakarta, Kang Dedi Mulyadi Governor of West Java,” read the wreath, as quoted on Monday (22/6). Earlier, DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung led the 499th anniversary ceremony for the City of Jakarta at the National Monument (Monas) Square in Central Jakarta on Monday (22/6). During the ceremony, Pramono served as the inspector of the ceremony. DKI Jakarta Regional Secretary Uus Kuswanto acted as the Ceremony Officer, and Head of the East Jakarta Fire and Rescue Sub-department Muchtar Zakaria served as the Ceremony Commander. Pramono was accompanied by his wife, Hani Pramono, who is also the Chair of the DKI Jakarta Province PKK Mobilisation Team. Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Rano Karno also appeared alongside Pramono, wearing a black Betawi traditional ‘ujung serong’ outfit. Before the ceremony began, the atmosphere of the Jakarta anniversary commemoration was enlivened by a marching display involving various elements, from Public Facilities and Infrastructure Handling (PPSU) officers to firefighting personnel. Various Betawi cultural art performances were also showcased, including a dance themed around the waste sorting movement being promoted by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government. A number of figures attended the ceremony, including DKI Jakarta Governor for the 1997–2007 period Sutiyoso, Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta for the 2022–2024 period Heru Budi Hartono, and Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta for the 2024–2025 period Teguh Setyabudi. In his address, Pramono invited all residents to make the 499th anniversary of Jakarta a momentum to strengthen collaboration and optimism ahead of the city’s five-century milestone. “Today, at 499 years old, Jakarta stands at the gate to five centuries. A journey that invites us to glance back momentarily at the past, to see how far we have come, while looking towards Jakarta’s future with full hope and confidence,” Pramono said. He noted that despite the global economy still facing various challenges due to geopolitical dynamics, Jakarta has managed to maintain economic stability. Jakarta’s inflation throughout 2025 was recorded at 2.45%, while investment realisation in the first quarter of 2026 reached Rp270 trillion. Jakarta’s economic growth also reached 5.59%, contributing 16.67% to the national economy.