Rano Karno Weeps Recounting Citizens' Prayers for Jakarta at 499th Anniversary

Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Rano Karno, wept during his speech at a DPRD DKI plenary session commemorating the 499th anniversary of Jakarta. Rano spoke of the many prayers and contributions made by citizens for the city.

“In one year, Jakarta will enter its 5th century. An age not merely counted by the passing of years, but by the traces of millions of footsteps, sweat, prayers, struggle, and hope of the citizens who have cared for this city from generation to generation,” Rano said in his address at the DPRD DKI Jakarta Building on Jalan Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta, on Monday (22/6/2026).

Rano stated that Jakarta has endured amidst changing times. He noted that Jakarta remains open to everyone.

“Jakarta has learned to survive amidst change, to rise from various challenges, and to continue opening space for anyone who comes bearing dreams,” he said.

Rano expressed his desire for Jakarta to become more humane. He hopes Jakarta can become a global city that still showcases its own culture.

“But also a future that is more humane, a future that brings a sense of safety, opportunity, justice, and hope for all its citizens. We want to make Jakarta a cultured global city, a city that faces the world with full confidence, becoming a centre of growth, innovation, and civilisation,” he stated.

Rano said the DKI Provincial Government is striving to make Jakarta competitive. He noted that a developed city is not merely defined by its tall buildings.

“For the measure of a city’s progress lies not only in the glitter of its lights and the grandeur of its buildings, but in how far every child can dream, every family can live decently, every elderly person feels respected, and every citizen feels they have a place in the great home called Jakarta. This is the Jakarta we want to realise and bequeath when this city enters its 5th century,” he concluded.