Remembering Ucu Kambing, the Betawi Jawara Who Once Rivaled Hercules in Tanah Abang
The name Muhammad Yusuf Muhi, better known as Ucu Kambing, has resurfaced in public discourse amid renewed discussion of Hercules Rosario de Marshall. He is widely known as one of the Betawi ‘jawara’ who wielded considerable influence in the Tanah Abang area of Central Jakarta, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s. For years, Ucu Kambing has often been linked to tales of a feud with Hercules, although the family has recently offered a different explanation regarding their relationship.
Among the Betawi community, Ucu Kambing was not only known as a figure respected for his bravery but also as a community leader credited with contributing to the security and order of the Tanah Abang district. His name is still remembered today as one of the legendary figures influential in the region.
Muhammad Yusuf Muhi was born in 1947 and grew up in the Tanah Abang area of Central Jakarta. The nickname ‘Ucu Kambing’ stuck from an early age, making him better known by this moniker than his birth name. According to various circulating accounts, Ucu Kambing possessed martial arts skills that made him widely respected. He is also cited as one of the influential Betawi jawara of the 1990s and a key figure in maintaining security in the Tanah Abang area.
Beyond his reputation as a jawara, Ucu Kambing also founded the Ikatan Keluarga Besar Betawi Tanah Abang (IKBT). The organisation was later entrusted with managing security services in the Tanah Abang area and parts of West Jakarta. Ucu Kambing was also known for his distinct approach to the problem of thuggery. He reportedly preferred to guide individuals involved in criminal acts by providing them with jobs so they would not return to activities that disturbed the community.
The name Ucu Kambing is most frequently associated with Hercules Rosario de Marshall. For years, stories have circulated that Ucu Kambing was the figure who successfully halted the dominance of Hercules’ group in Tanah Abang in the mid-1990s. The widely circulated version states that the conflict began when Hercules’ group started entering the Bongkaran area of Tanah Abang, which at the time was a hub for loading and unloading activities as well as a nightlife district. The group’s presence reportedly triggered friction with local residents, which eventually escalated into clashes.