The Jakarta Grand Week Organizer Foundation Was Founded By Ali Sadikin In History Today, December 16, 1968

The Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ali Sadikin, accompanied President Suharto and Mrs. Tien at the opening of the Jakarta I 1968 Grand Week. (Bang Ali Book: Demi Jakarta 1966-1977/Ramadhan KH)

JAKARTA History today, 54 years ago, December 16, 1968, the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ali Sadikin founded the Jakarta People's Week Implementation Foundation. Ali founded the foundation after the Jakarta Grand Week (PRJ) or Jakarta Fair 1st major success.

He considers that PRJ must be worked on seriously. No. This is because PRJ benefits the government and citizens of Jakarta. Previously, Ali Sadikin was interested in making PRJ because he was inspired by a similar celebration during the Dutch colonial period: Gambir Market.

The medicine of Queen Wilhelmina which was held on August 31, 1898 was a major event. At least for the colony, the Dutch East Indies. The event was celebrated on a large scale. In fact, the idea of managing a night market every year is a form of gratitude.

The celebration began in 1906. Gambir Market, his name. The celebrations start from August 31 to mid-September at Koningsplein (now: National Monument Area). A location that was deliberately chosen because it was quite wide and capable of becoming a magnet that brought in large crowds.

There is no enthusiasm for visitors to Gambir Market. Crowds and diversity are united in it. This is because all ethnic groups come and enjoy the Gambir Market celebration. No exception. They can enjoy all kinds of entertainment. There is entertainment for children. There is also entertainment for adults.

Even in Gambir Market, people can watch exhibitions of traditional houses like miniatures of the archipelago. All of this is proof that the Dutch can combine three things (party, exhibition, and fun) at one time.

A boisterous market. It consists of a field, ethnic houses of bamboo, rumbia roof, and a dark-pantalon Dutch master, a white templed shirt, butterfly tie, and shiny hair.

There are tobacco booths, glide boards that are surrounded by children, and don't forget, when the sun goes down, European-style dances and thick wine-flavoured drinks, (1) Arif Zulkifli in his writing in Tempo Magazine entitled Gambir Market in thejahan Era (1999).

The admiration for the Gambir Market did not go away after Indonesia's independence. Even though it has disappeared since the eruption of World War II. Stories related to the excitement of Gambir Market remain sustainable in the minds of many people. Ali Sadikin, one of them.

The governor of DKI Jakarta is often told by his brother regarding the majestic Pasar Raya Gambir. However, he himself is often unable to attend Gambir Market. These stories inspire Ali Sadikin to make similar entertainment in Jakarta.

That ambition made Ali Sadikin initiate the Jakarta Grand Week (PRJ). PRJ is similar to the Gambir Market. The form of entertainment is widely adopted by PRJ. The exhibition, especially so. The DKI Jakarta Government is working on PRJ seriously to commemorate Jakarta City Anniversary. As a result, the 1st PRJ was inaugurated at Monas on June 5, 1968. The night market lasted for 14 days.

The 1st PRJ is quite successful. PRJ was able to create jobs for Jakarta residents. Ali Sadikin also wanted to perpetuate PRJ as an annual celebration. As a form of seriousness, he founded the PRJ Organizing Foundation on December 16, 1968. The goal is that PRJ is well managed in the years to come.

Given the importance of this activity, I then strengthen my institution with the Regional Regulation (Perda) a month after the 1st PRJ. To institutionalize this holiday I formed the Jakarta Grand Week Implementation Foundation as the implementation agency at the end of 1968. Because with the committee alone, it is impossible for us to manage well this big holiday, "said Ali Sadikin as written by Ramadhan KH in the book Bang Ali: For the sake of Jakarta 1966-1977 (1992).