TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan responded to the Betawi community’s refusal against the governor’s plan to change a name of a street in Jakarta.

The Jakarta Administration plans to change Mampang Raya and Warung Buncit Raya to General A.H. Nasution street. However, Anies Baswedan quickly maintained that the name change is still merely a plan and will later involve members of the public if it does get implemented.

“Previously, I would like to confirm, the plan to change the street’s name is just that, a plan. Secondly, the process of doing so is not that simple,” said Anies Baswedan on Wednesday, January 31.

Anies Baswedan plans to revise Governor’s Decree No 28/1999 on the guidelines of naming a public street, land, and building since it does not involve the people, historian, humanist elements, and urban planner.

Other than that, he considers that the idea to change the name is important. It was initially suggested by the Nasution family ties group.

“I am one of the people that feels Abdul Haris Nasution needs to be immortalized,” said Anies Baswedan.

Following news about the plan, the Betawi community launched a petition regarding the name change introduced by one of the community’s members Yahya Andi Saputra.
“Several Betawi communities have signed the petition on the refusal of the name change. We do hope that Governor Anies Baswedan can stop that process,” said Yahya.

Yahya explained that Mampang and Warung Buncit is a manifestation of Betawi villages in Jakarta. He also said that memories of Betawi cultural heritage in Jakarta are slowly lost.

FADIYAH | DA