Whereas Ali Sadikin Expects TMII To Be A Regional Cash Barn

JAKARTA - Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) is Jakarta's way of beautifying itself. In the glasses of Jakarta Governor Ali Sadikin (1966-1977), TMII is a regional cash barn.

Moreover, TMII is hailed as the backbone of nusantara tourism pulse. Most people think otherwise. TMII is considered to be only a waste of funds. Minimal benefits anyway. The dynamic then indirectly made TMII widely known by all Indonesians.

Since the project of making miniatures of Indonesia was triggered in 1971, the gelora rejection appeared in the capital. The announcement from Tien Soeharto was full of contradictions. On the one hand, Tien is happy to announce the construction of TMII which costs a lot. On the other hand, Tien's husband, President Suharto had a speech, asking officials to be concerned about bin hemat because many people are still living in poverty.

Ali Sadikin and Suharto (Book bang Ali:Demi Jakarta 1966-1977 by Ramadhan K.H)

People who joined the resistance movement began to take to the streets. Some of them are active in conducting a variety of discussions heating fire rejection. The tmii development plan was considered very luxurious. One of the rejections is Arief Budiman.

He said the rejection stemmed from many concerns. Arief Budiman details the Miniatur Indonesia Indah (MII) project, just the estuary of the simplicity of Tien Soeharto's way of thinking. As a result, Tien made a mistake in determining the priorities and timings of mii development.

"That's why we decided to move. Of course, with full awareness that this movement could be used by people who were unhappy with the Suharto government, both for political reasons and because of personal ambitions. Clearly, we feel, as a young man responsible for the future of this nation, we have to criticize the Project Miniatur Indonesia Indah, which we think is really a mistake if the implementation is to be imposed right now," said Arief Budiman in the book Freedom, State, Development (2006).

For Arief Budiman, Tien's mistake was to force the MII project to occupy the top spot on the scale of development priorities. The effort then made a rejection gelora emerged from student groups in Medan, Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, and Malang. In the protest, there were also various movements with funny names such as the Austerity Movement, the Common Sense Movement (GAS), and the People's Money Rescue Movement.

Bu Tien and Suharto at an event (Source: Soeharto.co)

"Apparently student protests against the project have continued to grow since 1971, and when it entered 1972 the protests continued, resulting in many state officials feeling the need to take certain actions in connection with the protests that emerged," ignatius Haryanto wrote in the book Indonesia Raya Dibredel (2006).

As a result, anti-MII supporter Arief Budiman –-Soe Hok Gie's brother– was arrested. Tien Soeharto was offended because Arief Budiman constantly used the media as a medium of delivering MII criticism.

Arief considers the money for mii projects better and useful if used in developing education, economy, or public facilities. Not the other way around, which he values only in favor of the government. While the people got nothing.

"The detention was carried out by soldiers from the Security and Order Recovery Command. I was arrested while speaking at a seminar at a hotel in Jakarta. Even though the theme of the seminar had nothing to do with the Mini Park project. After undergoing examination at Kopkamtib Headquarters in Kebayoran Lama area, South Jakarta, I was then detained without justice," said Arief Budiman quoted by Tempo Magazine in the title Anti-Memilih, Anti-Taman Mini (2012).

Ali Sadikin responds to criticism

The rapid rejection of MII made Ali Sadikin who participated in the response to all forms of criticism of indonesia's miniature project. The Governor of Jakarta, nicknamed the Stubborn Governor, thinks that the development of MII has been present since the time of Governor Soemarno Sosroatmodjo (1966-1966).

However, at that time the MII project was still named Taman Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, as enthined by Sukarno. So the construction is considered Ali Sadikin is the mandate of the people.

"I still confirm, that the project is in accordance with the plan of the Dki Jakarta Regional Government, in accordance with the existing plan in the master plan. The problem is the party that does it. Because Dki has no cost, and now there is Yayasan Harapan Kita, there is Mrs. Tien who will carry it out, what's wrong with DKI? I have no reason not to approve the construction of the Mini Park. In fact, this benefits the people of Jakarta," said Ali Sadikin quoted by Ramadhan K.H. in the book Bang Ali: Demi Jakarta 1966-1977 (1992).

Ali Sadikin (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

Nevertheless, Ali Sadikin appreciated all the criticisms that came in. Criticism is a part that should be appreciated as a form of completeness of democracy. Therefore, Ali asked the security forces not to use violence or provoke violence.

Even so, Ali Sadikin remained on his stance that MII is not only used as a draw for tourists who will go to the regions. Moreover, local tourists can know the existence of Indonesia's diversity through MII. Including national culture and art.

"As the capital of the country, Jakarta will dry without a touch of culture. he also can be a national city of culture and art. At that time, in Jakarta there were about 3.6 million indigenous and foreign people-who were certainly unable to travel around Indonesia. Therefore, I founded the Jakarta Arts Institute and the Jakarta Arts Council. Also Taman Ismail Marzuki and Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII)," said Ali Sadikin to Edy Budiarso in a paper in Tempo Magazine entitled Ali Sadikin: Gambling Problem Is My Personal Responsibility to God (2000).

*Read more information about TMII or read other interesting writings from Detha Arya Tifada.

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