Traces Of Haji Lulung's Power In Tanah Abang

JAKARTA - Tanah Abang Market is one of the oldest business centers in Jakarta. As an economic area, Tanah Abang Market is a place to find food for experts from various ethnic groups. In fact, since the Dutch era. Who is strong, he is in power. Abraham Lunggana aka Haji Lulung left his mark there.

The Hercules group was defeated by the Betawi group, Muhammad Yusuf Muhi (Bang Ucu). He continued the tradition of Betawi masters ruling Tanah Abang. After that, Bang Ucu appointed Haji Lulung as the successor of power.

The Tenabang area – the short term for the Betawi people for Tanah Abang – has been a bone of contention since the Dutch era. Its strategic location is so muasal. Many of the landlords struggle to get land in the Tenabang area.

Dutch Trade airline VOC official Justinus Vinck, one of them. He is desperate to make the land in Tenabang to Senen as his asset. Lobbies were carried out to subdue the owner, Cornelis Chastelein. Chastelein melted.

The land was sold to Justinus Vick for 39 thousand ringit in 1733. Vinck's ambition was big. He wants to stretch the economic cycle in his land to develop rapidly. That thought made Vinck initiate the establishment of an economic center in the region.

He wants to create two markets at once: Pasar Senen and Pasar Tanah Abang. Both were inaugurated simultaneously, on August 30, 1735. Since the inauguration, Tanah Abang Market has become an economic center with a large amount of money in circulation. Therefore, Betawi masters began to arrive to find food in Tanah Abang.

“The history of Tenabang Village cannot be separated from the existence of Tanah Abang Market. This market was built at the same time as Pasar Senen by Justinus Vinck, a Dutchman who owned land in both areas. The construction of the market began in 1735, to accommodate the abundance of plantation produce in the area.”

“Such as from Kebon Kacang, Kebon Melati, Kebon Pala, which is now the name of the village. The market is also a place for champions to make a living. Gang Kubur Lama as a master-producing area, is located not far from Tanah Abang Market," said GJ Nawi in the book Maen Punch: Typical Betawi Pencak Silat (2016).

The development of the market played a major role in the development of a small civilization in Tanah Abang Village. The original heroes of Tanah Abang appeared. From those who work as traders to security guards.

Most of them serve as the cross-section of the community from outside threats and become defenders of the weak. Because of that, the existence of a thug at that time was the opposite of that of a thug. The Tanah Abang market then became a wetland for them to make a living.

There is not just one genre, but dozens of masters with nuances of diversity in playing punches in Tenabang. Jago Tenabang is also open with the arrival of other heroes. As for some Betawi masters from outside Tenabang who chose to settle down. To survive, he said.

“Self-defense has become an important part of the life of the Bumiputra (Nusantara) community. Several ethnic areas in big cities such as Batavia (Tanah Abang, Kebayoran Lama, Pasar Senen, Pasar Jatinegara, for example) and Surabaya (Kampung Kapasan), during the Dutch era were both business centers and vulnerable areas so people had to be able to defend their property. or someone else,” wrote Rayhan Biadillah in the book Silat Beksi and Its Characters in Petukangan (2021).

The stretching of Tanah Abang Market as a wetland for making a living for the masters continues from generation to generation. The rulers were not only native Betawi experts, but began to be controlled by groups from outside Jakarta. The appearance of Rosario Marshal or known as Hercules as the ruler of Tanah Abang Market, for example.

He managed to defeat a local champion and became the ruler of Tanah Abang in the 1980s. In Tanah Abang, the Hercules group controlled various businesses. Gambling, prostitution, security, to managing street vendors.

Hercules' movements in Tanah Abang are so well organized. In order to secure the land of his power. Hercules also took one of the Betawi figures. The figure is Abraham Lunggana, or who is familiarly called Haji Lulung.

"Once healed, Hercules entered the demolition area in Tanah Abang. His group manages gambling and prostitution. Later, his friends from East Timor followed. Among them are Alfredo Monteiro Pires, Logo Vallenberg, Germano, Luis, Jimmy, and Anis. This group 'collaborates' with the Betawi champion, Abraham Lunggana alias Haji Lulung.”

“The Timorese group also manages street vendors. They get 'service fees' from traders, from daily, monthly deposits, to annual bonuses. In the 1990s, when the exchange rate was IDR 1,700 per US dollar, street vendors paid IDR 300 thousand - 1 million per month. To Tempo, Alfredo said that at that time he was receiving IDR 3.5 million per month,” wrote a Tempo Magazine report entitled Falling-Bangun Jawara Tenabang (2010).

The cooperation between Hercules and Haji Lulung was successful. The duet of the two is a guarantee for the security of the Tanah Abang market in the next few years. However, the Hercules group's glory had to come to an end.

Likewise the existence of Haji Lulung. The Hercules group was successfully tamed by the Betawi master, Muhammad Yusuf Muhi (Bang Ucu) in 1997. The label for the ruler of Tanah Abang then moved to Bang Ucu.

The victory was because Bang Ucu had the support of all Betawi figures. Moreover, Bang Ucu is predicted to have the blood of the bloodline of the famous Tanah Abang hitman, Sabeni. Hercules was considered a common enemy.

One side of Hercules is the comer. On the other hand, Hercules perpetuated gambling and prostitution. Things that are not in accordance with the values held by a Betawi master. Bang Ucu's group rejoiced with their victory.

But not for Haji Lulung. He was being chased by all the Betawi heroes. He is considered a traitor. Even to protect himself, Haji Lulung had time to hide. However, Bang Ucu appears as a savior. Lulung was raised as his right hand. Haji Lulung's intelligence and network are considered meaningful to Bang Ucu.

Gradually, the business fields of Hercules began to be controlled by Haji Lulung. He also did not forget to set up his personal security service company. PT. Putra Perkasa to legitimize his power in Tanah Abang. He also began to develop his business in the business of parking and security fields.

Moreover, Haji Lulung began to solidify his career in politics as a member of the council. Because of that support continues to flow from Bang Ucu to Haji Lulung. In fact, after Bang Ucu retired, Haji Lulung inherited the title as ruler of Tanah Abang Market.

“In the Betawi tradition and in pencak silat more generally, lineage is important to legitimize a champion within the community, acting as a kind of 'contract' of accountability to pre-determined norms of behavior.”

“Ucu's deputy is Abraham Lunggana, known as Haji Lulung, who as an important member of Pemuda Panca Marga (PPM) has close ties to the military, also runs his own security services company, Putra Perkasa, which controls parking lots in parts of central and north Jakarta. ” closes Ian Douglas Wilson in the book Politics of Thugs' Ration (2018).

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