Letter To Anies, JJ Rizal Asks For JIS Name To Be Announced Changed To MH Thamrin Stadium June 25

Jakarta International Stadium (JIS)/DOK VOI-Diah Ayu

JAKARTA - Historian JJ Rizal asked DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to announce the change of name Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) to MH Thamrin Stadium during the grand launching on June 25.

Rizal said he and a number of other Betawi cultural activists had sent an official letter to Anies several months ago regarding the proposal to change the name of the international-class stadium.

"Hopefully, the governor will officially announce the name MH Thamrin Stadium on June 25, 2022," Rizal said in a short message, Monday, June 6.

Rizal admitted that the proposal to change the name of JIS to MH Thamrin Stadium had been submitted directly to Anies since 2019 during the 125th MH Thamrin Festival event on the VIJ field.

This proposal was again submitted to Anies when the JIS construction reached 70 percent. At that time, Anies invited Rizal and a number of colleagues to play soccer at the JIS training field.

"So, the struggle for the monumental building to be named MH Thamrin has been carried out since the beginning of 2019," said Rizal.

Previously, Rizal explained his reason for making an online petition demanding Anies change the name of JIS. Mohammad Husni Thamrin, for JJ Rizal, is the right name for a character to be immortalized in the magnificent stadium built by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government.

Rizal continued, MH Thamrin had succeeded in inheriting modern Indonesian football as a national reactor, so that Jakarta became the national football capital of Indonesia.

"MH Thamrin, the son of Betawi, who became a national hero as well as a monumental hero of Jakarta and Indonesia football. He is a national movement figure who defends the little people in the villages who is not only a football freak and likes to cultivate round skin, but also has a vision of modern football. Indonesia is a reactor for nationalism," he explained.