Anies Baswedan's Story While Staying At Sabira Island, Which Is Nicknamed 'The North Guardians' Island

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan visits the floating net cages on Pramuka Island, Seribu Islands, Jakarta, Friday, April 30 (Abdu Faisal/Antara)

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan stays on an island that was once called Nochtwachter or "The Guardian of the North" and is now called Sabira Island, Seribu Islands, Jakarta, Friday, April 30.

He spent the night there gathering, chatting, and discussing with the residents. He will return to Jakarta on Saturday, May 1.

As reported by Antara, Saturday, April 1, Anies stayed at the house of the head of Community Association (RW) 03 of Harapan Island Village, North Seribu Islands District, Seribu Islands, Ali Kurniawan.

He was also the only Governor of DKI Jakarta who not only came to visit twice, but also the only governor of DKI Jakarta who wants to stay overnight on the frontier island in DKI Jakarta Province.

"I came here in April 2019, to be more precise two years ago. About 20 years, empty, never and no governor who came like this," said Anies.

Sabira Island is indeed a few kilometers closer to the mainland of Sumatra than the mainland of Java Island. But Sabira Island is still part of DKI Jakarta Province.

"The kilometers can be far from Monas, but our feelings, hearts, and our bonds of togetherness are very strong and very close. Even though the kilometers are far away," said Anies.

Anies said this opportunity was his chance to visit Sabira Island completely. He kept his promise to stay one night to discuss with local residents.

Not only staying overnight, but Anies could also pray Isya and Tarawih in congregation with Sabira Island residents at the Jami 'Nurul Bahri Mosque, Harapan Island Village, North Seribu Islands District, Seribu Islands.

On the 18th night of Ramadan, the yellow duct tape has opened up, not only because of the distance that is deliberately stretched, but because at that time, the leaders of DKI Jakarta participated in carrying out congregational prayers with their residents.

It was seen that some of the congregation were holding prayer mats on the terrace of the mosque to keep their distance, but still witnessing the Governor of DKI Jakarta in person.

Anies has been greeted with great fanfare. Not only once, local residents asked to take a photo with the Governor of DKI Jakarta.

Anies considered the residents of Sabira Island to be extraordinarily tough. Although initially, it was only a fishing village on uninhabited land 120 kilometers from the mainland of the capital in 1975, since then the civilization on Sabira Island has continued to grow independently.

They manage their own needs, handle their own problems until they can live independently. So the government is witnessing the growth of a society where everything can be resolved by themselves.

"That's amazing, isn't it? Just imagine, part of the capital city, an island that grows independently. That's interesting on this island. In my opinion, the people on this island here are tough," said Anies.

Anies said the independence of Sabira Island residents made the Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta feel the need to provide basic facilities from the government for them.

The basic needs that need to be realized include transportation and electricity.

Anies said the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government through the Transportation Agency provides transportation in the form of passenger ships to help the mobility of Sabira Island's residents.

In addition, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is collaborating with the State Electricity Company (PLN) Greater Jakarta Main Distribution Unit (UID Jaya) to build another Solar Power Plant (PLTS) on Sabira Island.

The PLTS has a power capacity of 400 kilowatts peak (KWp) and is projected to produce energy of 1,200-kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day.

"Alhamdulillah, with this PLTS, the use of diesel power plants can be reduced by 50 percent so that it is more efficient," said Anies.