History Of Young-Mudi Nights: The Peak Of Jakarta City's Birthday Celebration

The Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ali Sadikin, danced at Night Mudi to commemorate the 444th anniversary of Jakarta on Jalan Thamrin. (Perpusnas)

JAKARTA - Nothing special related to the celebration of Jakarta City's Birthday (HUT) at the beginning of independence. The entertainment that is presented is limited to parties tends to only be celebrated by officials and the wealthy.

Everything changed when Ali Sadikin was in control of Jakarta. The Governor of DKI Jakarta 1966-1977 wanted the Jakarta Anniversary to be held lively. Instead of only presenting the Jakarta Grand Week (PRJ), Ali also presented a Young-Mudi Night. A party that can be accessed by all circles.

Anyone who leads DKI Jakarta must be immune to criticism. Ali has also felt it. The dynamics of Ali's policy are taking advantage of loopholes in the rules to attract taxes from gambling and localization of flood criticism.

Criticism continued when Ali began to beautify Jakarta. Many kinds of entertainment facilities were built, such as casinos, nightclubs, and steam baths. The entertainment was clearly not intended for the little people. Criticism comes. Ali was considered pro-duit.

Ali also tried to prove that he was the leader of Jakarta who was able to stand above all groups. The man who is familiarly called Bang Ali understands very well the limitations of the small people in accessing entertainment.

Ali Sadikin's wish is to present a big celebration for all groups to emerge. He also planned the presence of an event that could give the impression that Jakarta had a party. Alias a celebration that can be accessed by Jakarta residents, cheap, if necessary, is free.

Ali was initially in trouble looking for a party form. This condition is because since June 22 the era of Governor Sudiro as the anniversary of Jakarta. The celebration is mediocre. Ali also tried to twist his memory into the Dutch colonial era.

Ali found a lively night market concept. Gambir Market, his name. He adopted the concept and collaborated with overseas events and became Djakarta Fair (now: Jakarta Grand Week). Ali also met with an overview of the actual festive birthday celebration.

Ali got that picture from parties in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The concept then led to ideas to create Young Carnival Mudi or better known as Muda Night.

"Still experiencing it or not, Young Night? It's crowded, anyway! Jakartans are proud as Jakartans. Yesterday Jakarta's anniversary, I didn't feel that it was Jakarta's birthday. I deliberately turned around, that's it! The atmosphere is like an ordinary night.

"In the past, it was very crowded and it was cheap. I appreciate the residents of this city who need entertainment, but have no money, have no place. Well, I often see in magazines, there is Rio de Janeiro, why can't Jakarta? New Year and Jakarta Anniversary, I block Jalan Thamrin, put lights on, the people are entertained," said Ali Sadikin as written by Ramadhan KH in the book Pers Ask, Bang Ali Answer (1995).

The first young night was seriously discussed by the DKI Jakarta government. The celebration was predicted to be the peak of celebrations from the anniversary of Jakarta. Ali's ambition to present a festive giant party in Jakarta was unstoppable.

The first Young-Mudi Night was finally carried out from 1968. One year the birth of Djakarta Fair. Mudi Night lasted two days, June 21-22 and took place on Jalan Thamrin, Central Jakarta.

The holding of the Mudi Young Night has also received the blessing of the 2007-1971 National Police Chief, General Hoegeng Imam Santoso. The national figure has the same desire as Ali so that the small people get entertainment. In fact, Hoegeng went to the streets to make sure the Young Night went smoothly.

Jalan Thamrin is also decorated with special knick-knacks for big parties. The stages were also placed for dozens. The event then became the center for the gathering of Jakarta residents. Hundreds of thousands of Jakarta residents were present on Jalan Thamrin.

They tried to celebrate a free and happy entertainment. Bang Ali was touched by the enthusiasm of the people of Jakarta who came. He saw that many Jakarta residents came with their families. There are also those who come with their partners.

Not a few also brought mats and food from home to enjoy the excitement of the Young Night. They want to watch entertainment as well as fireworks. Ali even asked security officers not to disturb young people who were drunk.

The first Mudi Night event went smoothly. At first, many protested the use of Thamrin Street for the party. However, Ali considered the wind. He thought it was the right of the citizens of Jakarta to hold a celebration in the stategis area of the State Capital, Thamrin Street, which incidentally was taken from the name of the Betawi figure, MH Thamrin.

"Indeed, in the previous years there were protests that recommended that the holding of a happy night event centered on Jalan Thamrin be eliminated. But I think, let the people who are unable to be happy once a year."

"Don't go to Thamrin Street, only the rich people enjoy the cars that pass there every day. I think we have to give people 10 hours a year of goods opportunities to enjoy it too," said Ali Sadikin as written by Ramadhan KH in the book Bang Ali: Demi Jakarta 1966-1977 (1992).