Jakarta Aspires to Become a Global City, but Thugs Still Control the Streets

Jakarta is currently in an ambitious phase of transforming into a global city. The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has openly targeted entry into the top 50 global cities by 2030, followed by breaking into the top 20 worldwide by 2045. DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung describes this target as part of a long-term roadmap that focuses not only on physical development but also on the comprehensive transformation of the city. Within this framework, Jakarta is encouraged to meet various global city indicators, such as strengthening the economy, developing sustainable infrastructure, integrating digital-based public services, and improving the quality of human resources. Several programmes are being implemented to accelerate steps towards global standards, such as developing public transportation and integrating services through applications. However, behind this, there remains one layer that has not truly been resolved, namely the issue of thuggery, which is part of human resource improvement to achieve global city goals. A case in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, serves as one of the latest examples. A bakso vendor had to watch his trading bowls being smashed one by one by a man suspected of collecting money on Friday (10/4/2026). The incident was recorded, went viral, and was then addressed by authorities. Police arrested three perpetrators who were known to be carrying sharp weapons and tested positive for narcotics consumption. Another case in the Banjir Kanal Timur (BKT) area, East Jakarta, on Thursday (25/12/2025) showed a similar pattern. A vendor who had just opened a stall was asked for money by thugs. The vendor refused, leading to physical violence and threats with sharp weapons. These two incidents are examples of thuggery cases in Jakarta that are visible and circulated to the public. Beneath the surface, other actions continue to occur, even numbering in the hundreds during the 2025 period alone. However, a broader picture is seen in the Operasi Berantas Jaya conducted in May 2025. In just 15 days of the operation, 3,599 people were secured by police authorities. This figure shows that the spectrum of thuggery is far broader than the cases visible to the public. Of the thousands secured in 2025, only 348 were designated as suspects. The rest, more than 3,200 people, underwent rehabilitation. The rehabilitation approach towards those secured indicates that thuggery is not an issue that can be resolved by arrests alone.