Pramono Anung Stresses Jakarta Must Be an Inclusive City

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung officially inaugurated 16 members of the Jakarta Academy for the 2026-2031 period at City Hall on Tuesday, 23 June 2026. The members consist of nine incumbents and seven new faces. Despite a scheduling delay, Pramono expressed gratitude that the inauguration proceeded smoothly. “Although the inauguration experienced a delay, Alhamdulillah it could be carried out today,” Pramono told the press. In his remarks, Pramono emphasised the Provincial Government’s commitment to opening up more space for culture, the arts, and freedom of expression. He stressed that Jakarta must be an inclusive and friendly city for all elements of society, including religious communities and artists. “I want the space for expression to be wide open for everyone. One of the things I encourage is for Jakarta to be open to all groups, be it religious, artists, and so on,” he said. This commitment is demonstrated through full support for various major religious and cultural celebrations involving the wider community. Pramono cited several successful large-scale events in the capital. “One example is the colossal Jakarta Christmas Carol along Sudirman-Thamrin, which had never happened before. Then there are the Imlek, Waisak, Nyepi, and of course Idulfitri celebrations. These spaces must be maintained together,” he stated. Interestingly, the vibrancy of cultural celebrations in Jakarta has also garnered international appreciation. Pramono recounted his experience meeting with senior officials in Singapore who were impressed by the atmosphere of tolerance in Jakarta. “They were surprised that the Imlek celebration in Jakarta could be even more festive than the one held in Singapore,” he said. Pramono acknowledged that improvements are still needed, particularly regarding the joint management of public facilities and major art stages. One key focus for the government going forward is optimising Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) as a centre for arts and cultural development. As a global city, Pramono reminded that Jakarta’s progress should not be measured solely by physical infrastructure development. “What is more important is the space for cultural identity and the arts, which are Jakarta’s main strengths. Physical development is indeed important, but public comfort and strengthening cultural identity must be the top priority. The most important thing is to make the people of Jakarta feel comfortable,” he said.