Will Disburse The Endowment Of Culture Fund, Rano Karno: Betawi Is The Richest Culture In Indonesia

JAKARTA - Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Rano Karno assessed that it was time for Betawi culture to accelerate along with Jakarta's goal of becoming a global city.

The government also discussed the distribution of endowment funds to advance Betawi. According to him, the endowment fund needs to be disbursed considering that Betawi is one of the most diverse cultures in Indonesia.

"Betawi is one of the richest cultures in Indonesia. Because this is a mixture, from the 16th century Jakarta, it has been very difficult to find which one is actually," said Rano in a discussion forum for the promotion of Betawi culture in Central Jakarta, Tuesday, July 17.

Based on historical records, Betawi culture is an accumulation of various ethnic groups that have come and settled in Jakarta or Batavia since the 17th century. There have been cultural and traditional mixings from various ethnic groups, ranging from Sundanese, Javanese, Malays, Bugis, Makassar, Arabic, Chinese, Indian, to European.

"Indeed, Jakarta has always been a city dealer, city center, to become a mixture. Now this is actually the strength of Betawi culture itself," explained Rano.

Therefore, Rano is targeting a draft regional regulation on the promotion of Betawi culture which revises Regional Regulation (Perda) Number 4 of 2015 concerning the Preservation of Betawi Culture to be discussed next year.

In the draft regional regulation, the DKI Provincial Government will include provisions regarding budget allocation for the eternal Betawi cultural funds. The distribution of this eternal fund is also the desire of Betawi traditional institutions to be realized.

"Next year we can arrange (the regional regulation) because the components of this activity must have a budget in the language. There is such a thing as cultural endowment funds. Now this is, we must agree to that," explained Rano.

In the preparation of this regional regulation, the DKI Provincial Government uses the legal basis of Law Number 2 of 2024 concerning Special Regions in Jakarta. The law regulates that the provincial government has special authority in the field of culture.

Referring to Article 31, the provincial government can budget for the endowment of culture allocated from the APBD and can propose additional funds to the central government.

In addition, the provincial government is also authorized to involve business entities, educational institutions, traditional institutions and Betawi culture, as well as the community in the advancement of culture.

Therefore, in this discussion forum, Rano hopes that Betawi cultural organizations can collect input on the policy of advancing Betawi culture to be included in the academic draft regional regulation.

"We hope that after today, they will submit to us inputs for us to decide immediately. I hope hopefully this year it will be finished," he added.