Anies Promise Will Not Commercialize TEAM Before Commission X DPR

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan (Diah Ayu Wardani / VOI)

JAKARTA - Commission X DPR RI summoned the ranks of the DKI Jakarta Regional Government in a hearing (RDP) to discuss the rejection of commercialization of the revitalization of Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM).

The ranks of the DKI Regional Government who attended included DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, DKI Regional Secretary Saefullah, Managing Director of PT JakPro, Chairperson of DKI DPRD Prasetio Edi Marsudi, Deputy Chairmen of DPRD, and members of Commission B DPRD.

In this meeting, Chairman of Commission X DPR RI Syaiful Huda conveyed the complaints of artists who are members of the Forum for Artists Caring for Taman Ismail Marzuki (FSPTIM). The artists, said Syaiful, are worried about the commercialization of TIM infrastructure and facilities management after being revitalized by PT Jakarta Propertindo (JakPro). This is because JakPro is a Regional-Owned Enterprise (BUMD) or a regional company that is oriented towards seeking profit from the regional capital participation (PMD) received.

"To the governor, we question why involving JakPro to manage the facilities in the TIM for up to 28 years. The artists are worried about their fate and do not want any post-revitalization commercialization," said Syaiful after opening a meeting at the DPR RI Building, Senayan, Central Jakarta, Thursday, 27 February.

DPR Commission X meeting with the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan (Diah Ayu Wardani / VOI)

Anies answered that even though it is a company, JakPro as a BUMD has the task of building facilities for the benefit of the region, not merely for profit. In addition, JapPro was appointed to manage the facilities in the TIM because it was able to work more flexibly than the regional work unit (SKPD), namely the Culture Office when collaborating with the private sector.

He guaranteed that JakPro would not commercialize the TIM area. This is because the management of art content that is held in the TIM area is held by the Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ) curatorial agency.

"JakPro manages its infrastructure because it does not have the competence and track record in the arts. As for art activities, the content is in the DKJ and the Culture Service," said Anies.

Responding to this, Member of Commission X DPR RI from the PDIP faction Rano Karno concluded that there was communication that did not run thoroughly between the DKI Provincial Government and the artists. According to him, the TEAM revitalization polemic should be resolved at the provincial level. However, poor communication and socialization of the revitalization work have forced the DPR to step in.

Rano explained that all DPR members support revitalization. However, Anies and his staff must improve communication with artists and be responsible for the promise that TIM will not be commercialized.

"We should not forget about history. The TIM was created in 1968 and was handed over to the DKJ. Pay attention to the artists. I just want to hold the Governor's statement that content management is only for artists and DKJ," said Rano.

Responding to this, Anies promised to improve communication with the artists. However, the voice that will be heard by the ranks of the DKI Provincial Government is the official institution, namely the DKJ.

"God willing, we will intensify communication again. Regarding the involvement of the channel, we use a clear institution, namely the DKJ, so we know who we should interact with," Anies said in his conclusion.

For information, at first this rejection was loudly voiced by several art activists in a discussion entitled "Where Do PKJ-TIM Will Be Taken?" which was held at the HB Jassin Documentation Center, TIM, on Wednesday, November 20, 2019. During the discussion, a number of art activists at TIM rejected the construction of a five-star hotel.

Chairman of the FSPTIM Radhar Panca Dahana considers the construction of luxury hotels in contrast to the preamble of the TIM as a center for creative arts and entertainment arts. This was stated in the Decree of former DKI Governor Ali Sadikin when inaugurating the TIM in 1968.

Actually, Radhar did not reject the TIM revitalization. However, they firmly rejected the commercialization of TIM in the form of luxury hotel development. Not to mention, the ranks of the DKI Pemprov seem to be a dumb wall seeing the hotel refusal efforts.

"We are not rejecting the revitalization, a new TEAM is okay, but not with the arrogance of power. Talk to us as the main stakeholders. He has only been governor for 50 years, why aren't we talking about it for 50 years," said Radhar.

Currently, the revitalization of the TIM is still ongoing. The TIM revitalization progress has entered into phase 2 construction, namely the revitalization of the Graha Bakti Budaya (GBB) building, which has begun demolition. The GBB building will be rebuilt with a modern and minimalist design.

Meanwhile, the construction of phase 1 which started earlier is still ongoing. The construction includes repairing the parking building, Amir Hamzah Mosque, library building, HB Literary Documentation Center. Jassin, public hallways, art galleries, dining areas, retail stalls and art guesthouses.