Native Betawi unconcerned about influx of new-comers

JAKARTA (JP): The indigenous people of Jakarta, or orang Betawi as they are known, remain resolute in their traditional ways without begrudging the sweeping changes in the city.

With the 467th anniversary of the capital on the threshold, a number of Betawi people interviewed by The Jakarta Post were unconcerned about the influx of new-comers stripping the face of the city of its traditional veneer.

"This is the capital city...we're not particularly disturbed by it. That's the way it goes," said H. Ali Sa'atih, a resident of Pondok Betung, South Jakarta.

The 64-year old Ali, or Pak Haji as everyone calls him, believes that there is nothing really to lament about the plight of the Betawi people.

Naisa Dablang, an 89-year old resident of Rempoa, South Jakarta, echoed the same sentiment when he said that he did not feel insecure and was resigned to fate.

The culture of the indigenous people of Jakarta has become increasingly diluted as the city evolves into a concrete jungle and melting-pot of various ethnic groups.

Despite being bombarded by a multitude of cultures and foreign influences, the Betawi people are resilient in their way of life.

Traditional characteristics are still dominant in their homes founded on a strong foundation of religious faith.

"I have married off all my children in the old way and I have taught them to cherish their past," Pak Haji said.

However he acknowledged that day by day things are changing and it cannot be stopped. "The main thing is we keep our faith in God and live by his ways."

The name Betawi dates back to 1619 when Dutch governor Jan Pieterzoon Coen burned the city of Jayakarta and established Batavia, which evolved into the metropolis of Jakarta.

The indigenous locals then took up the name and identified themselves as orang Betawi.

Minority

The orang Betawi though are now in minority, making up only about one-fourth of the city's total population.

Many Betawi people who once inhabited central parts of the city have been forced out to the suburbs where they eke out a miserable existence.

Once rich land-owning Betawi are now confined to small blocs of land in remote parts of the city.

Naisa described how his parents once owned 10 hectares in the Rempoa area, but bit by bit the land was sold and incredibly now only 170 square meters is left.

A history of land selling seems to be a dominant theme among the Betawi people. It is common practice for them to sell land in a consumptive way without realizing that it as renewable asset.

Pak Haji said that he has done it several times such as when he held a wedding party for one of his eight children or to finance his holy pilgrimage to Mecca.

"If I need the money for important purposes I will sell some of my land, fortunately I still have a few hectares left," he said.

Pak Haji, who sells fruit and vegetables, said he has also put aside some of the land for his children and has built each of his sons a house.

The fact that the Betawi tend to sell their land has been reproached by many of the younger generation.

Nana Rain who lives in Rawa, asserted that the main reason for this is a lack of education.

"I'm an orang Betawi but I'm modern and feel that education is important...you can lose land but you can't lose education," she said.

Nana, the eighth child of 14, says her family used to own about 10 hectares of land but now has just 600 square meters.

She went on to reflect that her parents are very firm in upholding Betawi customs, but even they have realized that education is important and that selling their land should no longer be habitual.

"My brothers and sisters are all educated," boasted Nana who is currently a second-year student at a secretarial academy.

Naisa's grand daughter, Nahuya Saenan, said her family lost most of their land because of ignorance.

"In the old days they weren't educated so they didn't understand...they used to lead a lavish life eventually forcing them to sell their land," she said.

When asked if they felt threatened by the progress in the city, both Nana and Nahuya said that at times they were a bit concerned about the survival of the Betawi people but overall it is acceptable.

It's all the same, it doesn't really matter where you come from, Nana said.

With this in mind they still cling onto several traditions which have been ingrained in their children.

In many parts of the city the Betawi people live together in a particular area establishing a strong communal bond.

More importantly the essence of Islam can not be denied from their way of life. As Nana explained, her parents, despite their firm grip, consent to marriages with other ethnic groups but not to those of other faiths.

Accordingly many others feel this way thus proving that religion remains the corner stone of the survival of Betawi culture.(03/mds)