Jakarta administration gets in record books

Jakarta administration gets in record books

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta administration received a rare gift
in honor of its 474th anniversary on Friday: a certificate from
the Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI) in recognition of its
gathering together in one place approximately 10,000 people
wearing Betawi (native Jakartan) traditional dress.

The museum also honored the government for serving various
kinds of Betawi traditional foods and snacks at the ceremony
marking the anniversary which was held at the National Monument
(Monas) park in Central Jakarta.

The men who attended the event wore Kemeja Sadariah (long-
sleeved shirt with a collar similar to the Chinese collar) and a
black cap while the women wore Kebaya Encim (Chinese-influenced
long-sleeved blouse with a pinched waist).

City Governor Sutiyoso received the certificate from the
museum director Jaya Suprana.

"Thousands of people wearing traditional clothes and the
serving up of various traditional foods at the same event. It's
never happened in any other province," Jaya said.

Most of the people attending the ceremony were administration
civil servants.

Sutiyoso and his wife Rini, who also wore traditional clothes,
took to the floor to dance to the traditional music.

Earlier in the ceremony, the governor had asked the civil
servants to be modest, economical and realistic in facing life,
and to avoid consumerism.

"I urge the administration's employees to work hard and
improve their efforts to achieve the targets set out in the city
budget," Sutiyoso said.

A series of events have been organized to celebrate the
anniversary, which culminated on Saturday night with a fireworks
fiesta at Ancol beach, North Jakarta. It was highlighted by the
incineration of a statue depicted a hoodlum, locally known as
preman, thus symbolizing the city's efforts to fight against the
thugs.

A parade of decorated vehicles will take place along Jl. MH.
Thamrin and Jl. Jend. Sudirman on Sunday. (jun)