Changes To The Names Of 22 Streets In DKI Jakarta Considered A Unilateral Decision By Anies Baswedan

Member of the DKI Jakarta DPRD from the PDI-P faction, Hardiyanto Kenneth. (photo: doc. between)

JAKARTA - The change in the names of 22 streets and areas in the capital city to become the names of Betawi figures continues to receive sharp criticism. Member of Commission D DPRD DKI Jakarta Hardiyanto Kenneth assessed that this was a unilateral decision and lacked socialization, resulting in several rejections from residents.

"It was a unilateral decision without taking into account the administrative legal aspects of the government, and without cultural, historical, and economic studies," he said in an official statement in Jakarta, Saturday, July 2, responding to the change of 22 street names by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, some time ago.

Previously, Governor Anies Baswedan issued Governor Decree No. 565 of 2022 concerning the Designation of Street, Building and Zone Names with the Names of Betawi and Jakarta Figures so that by then, 22 street and area names had changed to Betawi and Jakarta names and figures.

"If indeed the change of road name is something very important for the development of Jakarta, since Anies was elected as governor, he should have reviewed the matter so that it is included in the DKI Jakarta RPJMD (Regional Medium-Term Development Plan)," said the Head of IKAL PPRA LXII Lemhanas RI.

In the end, according to the PDI-P politician, the sudden decision to change the name of the street caused confusion and concern for the affected residents, resulting in many rejections.

An important point that should have been considered from the start, according to Kenneth, is that the DKI Provincial Government should respect the community by conducting massive socialization, so that there will be no negative emotional reactions to the change in street names because it is more or less troublesome for residents.

"With no socialization, currently many residents are refusing to change their house names, such as in Tanah Tinggi which was changed to Jalan A. Hamid Arief because residents said that the name was not someone who came from that area. Then there was also a refusal in Batu Village. Ampar, Kramat Jati who refused by making banners at the location," he said.

At the end of his term, he argues, Anies should focus more on and complete existing programs in the RPJMD, not create programs that have minimal benefits for citizens and seem political, considering that his remaining term of office is only four months.

Kenneth said that based on data from the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration (Dukcapil) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri), there were around 50,000 DKI Jakarta residents who had to update their e-KTP data and family cards (KK) due to the road change.

"I hope that in the remaining time as governor, Pak Anies is responsible for all the burdens of the residents affected by this road name change to change the data until it's finished, lest anyone is not served properly," he said.

This is because, he stressed, sometimes what has been promised from the DKI Provincial Government and Korlantas is not as smooth as its implementation in the field.

The head of the DKI Jakarta PDI-P DPD Disaster Management Agency (Baguna) also hopes that the decision to change the name of the road will not become a burden for the Acting Governor after Anies' term ends.

"We are worried that the process of repairing residents' documents and data will not be completed until the end of Anies' term of office, especially when there is a discourse to change the name of the second wave of roads," he said.

He also hopes that DKI Governor Anies can review the change of street names for the second phase.

"Mr. Anies must be able to study more deeply, such as the history of both the character and the location of the road chosen, then the context of the city or area planning that has a history, to a special identity," he said.