The Story of Ucu Kambing, the Betawi Champion Who Once Expelled the Legendary Thug Hercules from Tanah Abang

The name Hercules Rosario Marshal has returned to public attention after he was entrusted with a new position as the Honour Council of the National Indonesian Workers’ Union (SBNI). The inauguration took place during the II SBNI Congress on Sunday, 12 July 2026. In his speech, Hercules expressed gratitude and appreciation for the trust placed in him. “I am grateful to be honoured as the Honour Council of the National Indonesian Workers’ Union,” said Hercules. He assessed that the inauguration marked the beginning of a closer relationship between GRIB Jaya and SBNI as part of a larger family sharing the same vision. Furthermore, Hercules invited all elements of society to strengthen synergy in maintaining security and order, while supporting various programmes to preserve the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI). Although now active in community organisations, Hercules’s name previously drew attention after he made a statement considered insulting to former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Chief, Lieutenant General (Ret.) Sutiyoso. The remark provoked a strong reaction from former Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Commander, General (Ret.) Gatot Nurmantyo. The controversy has reminded the public of Hercules’s past as a respected figure in Jakarta’s underworld. One of the most famous stories of his life is his feud with Muhammad Yusuf Muhi, better known as Ucu Kambing. In the Tanah Abang area, the name Ucu Kambing is not unfamiliar. The native Betawi man, who grew up in the Menteng area, was known as one of the most influential champions in the region. The nickname “Kambing” (Goat) did not stem from his character, but because his family ran a goat soup business. Despite the simple nickname, Ucu’s courage was highly respected among Betawi gangster circles. His son, Chato Badra Mandrawata, also known as Bang Chatu, once described his father’s reputation as a man who was not just tough against a single opponent. “My father was not a one-on-one fighter, but one man against an entire village,” he said. The bloody clash between Hercules and Ucu Kambing occurred in 1996, when Tanah Abang was a territory contested by various gangster groups.