JIS Name Is Proposed To Change To MH Thamrin Stadium, What Do MH Thamrin's Family Say?

JAKARTA - Mohammad Husni (MH) Thamrin's grandson, Astuti Ananta, supports the historian's proposal to ask DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to change the name of Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) to MH Thamrin Stadium.

Astuti also appreciated the steps taken by historian JJ Rizal who made an online petition regarding the proposed change in the name of the international-class stadium.

"We support and appreciate the proposal to name JIS as MH Thamrin Stadium, especially in a sympathetic way by attracting votes of support from the public through online petitions. Even more grateful because MH Thamrin is still remembered, in fact, his services have been re-appointed in a field that is rarely known, namely football. Jakarta and Indonesia football," said Astuti when contacted on Sunday, June 12.

The son of writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer admits that so far Anies and the ranks of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government have never communicated with the family regarding the proposed change of JIS name.

However, Anies had time to involve his family to be invited to the 125th MH Thamrin Festival with an exhibition of historical photos of MH Thamrin and national football.

From there, Astuti hoped that Anies would accept the proposal to change the name of JIS to MH Thamrin Stadium.

"We support. We pray. However, the decision is left to the public and the DKI Jakarta Government. Thamrin gave his life to serve the citizens and the city government, so the citizens are the first and the city government considers it," she explained.

For information, 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.

Furthermore, Rizal explained the reason why he made 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.

MH Thamrin, according to him, has also succeeded in inheriting modern Indonesian football as a national reactor, so Jakarta is the capital of Indonesian national football.