Image of Betawi

I'd like to respond to what Mr. Zainal Abidin cited about Betawi -- in your article entitled Ms and Mr Jakarta, a stepping stone to popularity -- as a bunch of backward people who could only afford to live in the city's outskirts (The Jakarta Post, July 16, 1994).

As one who has lived and stayed with them and tried to understand their stance and culture, I fail to understand Mr. Zainal Abidin's concern for the lack of Betawi people entering the contest. I thought his hopes were for more people to enter the contest in that it could help enhance the social values of Betawi people, improve their prospects, and automatically, according to Mr. Zainal Abidin, boost the image of the Betawi.

For all I know, and I'm sure Mr. Zainal Abidin thinks as much, Betawi culture is a religious society with a religious culture which tries to survive without losing their identity as a religious people.

Frankly, it's so astonishing that such a statement was made by the chairman of the Betawi Art Institute, giving the impression to young people that if they want to succeed, the way they must do so is by entering such a contest. How could you come to a conclusion like that? How could the pageant's success boost the image of Betawi? How could one of our girls, if elected as a Ms Universe entrant, give the image of us as a nation who respect women but treat them like a commodity?

MUTTAQIN HASSAN

Jakarta