Admiral Malahayati Becomes The Name Of The Street In Jakarta In Today's Memory, November 23, 2021

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan when inaugurating Jalan Laksamana Malahayati as a substitute for the name of Jalan Inspeksi Kalimalang, East Jakarta, November 23, 2021. (Doc. Public Relations of the DKI Provincial Government)

JAKARTA Memories of today, four years ago, November 23, 2021, the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Baswedan changed the name of Jalan Inspeksi Kalimalang to the name of Admiral Malahayati. The naming of the national hero from Aceh is considered a form of respect.

Previously, changing street names with the name of heroes was nothing new. Many regional heads do it. Usually the move starts from the residents' proposals. Take for example the DKI Jakarta DPRD which proposed the name Ali Sadikin to be the name of the street.

Jakarta, like other regions, dedicates the name of national heroes to the name of the street. Usually the naming of the street is prioritized to the name of the national hero who was born in Jakarta. However, sometimes it is also given to national heroes from outside the region.

Take for example national heroes from Aceh. The DKI Jakarta government has captured the names of Cut Nyak Dhien and Teuku Umar as street names. There are also names of other national heroes such as Rasuna Said and Ki Hajar Dewantara.

This condition made all members of the DKI Jakarta DPRD ask Anies Baswedan to change the name of the street again with the name of a figure who has contributed to the development and progress of Jakarta. The DKI Jakarta DPRD then proposed the name Ali Sadikin on June 22, 2021.

They hope that the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Baswedan can make it happen. The narrative was because Ali Sadikin, who incidentally was the Governor of DKI Jakarta in the 1966-1977 era, was considered to have great services to build Jakarta. Ali is the reason why Jakarta is seen as a Metropolitan City.

Ali made Jakarta a city that is equal to a big city in Asia. As a result, there is no reason for the government not to perpetuate its name to the name of the street. The DKI Jakarta DPRD hopes that Ali Sadikin's name will be present to change Kebon Sirih Street.

"For this reason, we hope that in memory of his services, the name H. Ali Sadikin can be immortalized at the Block G Building in the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government, with the name Graha Ali Sadikin, Pendopo Ali Sadikin or Beranda Ali Sadikin. .

"In line with that, the Governor is also pleased to issue a Governor Regulation to determine the name change of Jalan Kebon Sirih, starting from the intersection of Jalan Abdul Muis to the intersection of Jalan Menteng Raya across the Tugu Statue Tani to Jalan H. Ali Sadikin," said the Chairman of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, Prasetyo Edi Marsudi as quoted by lamanompas.tv, June 22, 2021.

Instead of immediately granting the request of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, Anies instead chose the names of other figures to replace the names of roads in Jakarta. Anies officially replaced the name of Jalan Inspeksi Kalimalang in East Jakarta as the name of Admiral Malahayati on November 23, 2021.

Anies considered the respect for the National Hero from Aceh very important. In fact, it is considered a symbol of women fighting against the Dutch colonialists. The trace of Malahayati's courage is considered as a form of women's participation, long before Kartini echoed it.

Anies also hopes that the naming of the street is considered to be able to strengthen community unity between provinces. The naming made the DKI Jakarta DPRD collect Ali Sadikin's name changing the name of Jalan Kebon Sirih. Even though that wish never materialized until Anies' position ended.

"The inauguration of the name of this street is a form of respect and the highest respect from the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government to the National Hero Admiral Malahayati, his extended family, and the people of Aceh in general. The naming of Jalan Laksamana Malahayati on one of the roads in Jakarta is expected to further strengthen warm friendly relations between the people of Aceh and Jakarta," said Anies Baswedan as quoted on pagentempo.co, November 23, 2021.