TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Historian JJ Rizal asked Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to stop the construction of the Transjakarta bus stops at Tosari and the Hotel Indonesia or HI roundabout, Central Jakarta. According to him, the bus stops polluted people's view of Indonesia's Welcome Monument.

“Please, pak governor @aniesbaswedan, stop the arrogant construction of the @PT_Transjakarta bus stops in the cultural heritage area which marks the history of [Jakarta] from a colonial city to a national city inherited by Sukarno,” said Rizal on his Twitter statement, @JJRizal, on Thursday, September 29, 2022. Tempo is allowed to quote the tweet.

He explained that the monument is the legacy of first Indonesia’s President Soekarno and the Jakarta Governor of the 1964-1965 period, Hendrik Hermanus Joel Ngantung alias Henk Ngantung.

The Welcome Monument is also a symbol of the nation's friendliness, the friendly spirit of carrying out world order based on independence, eternal peace, and social justice.

Riza asked the city-run bus operator PT Transjakarta to build bus stops with friendly architecture and respect for historical areas. “Instead of intentionally using commercially valuable space for commercialization,” he added.

Apart from the giant bus stop in the HI Roundabout area, Transjakarta also built a gigantic bus stop in Sarinah, Central Jakarta. The historian thus hoped that Anies Baswedan will stop the project so as not to tarnish his achievements during his term leading Jakarta.

“Don't let these bus stops become a stain on the history books of your reign which is rich in achievements,” said JJ Rizal.

LANI DIANA WIJAYA

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