Governor Ali Sadikin Once Asked Depok To Enter DKI Jakarta

Ali Sadikin, while serving as Governor of DKI Jakarta in 1966-1977, had brought up the idea of incorporating Depok into the Jakarta area. (National Library)

JAKARTA - Ali Sadikin is one of the best governors ever to lead DKI Jakarta. His ideas are often brilliant. Sometimes it leads to controversy. Nothing is taboo for him. Nor is he anti-criticism. The man who is familiarly called Bang Ali opens a wide space for criticism.

Tones of criticism from the morning newspaper always followed up. Moreover, the idea of expanding Jakarta. He also proposed Depok as one of the areas included in DKI Jakarta. The effort was made so that Jakarta could synergize in terms of beautifying itself.

Regarding building Jakarta is not an easy job. The Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ali Sadikin (1966-1977) agreed. He had to fight desperately to map the problems of Jakarta. He understands the true meaning of a governor. According to him, the governor has two functions. First, the regional head. Second, as the representative of the center (president) in the regions.

Bang Ali feels very well that most governors are dominantly working as central tools, rather than carrying out their functions as regional heads. Bang Ali also broke the old habit. He wants to be a regional leader who is able to channel the aspirations of his people.

The Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ali Sadikin, views the governor's two functions, namely as regional head and deputy center in the region. (National Library)

All of that so that the voices of the people of Jakarta are represented. The responsibility is big. It takes moral courage to keep it. Ali Sadikin was also active in making incognito visits to villages. He is also willing to mingle with residents at the terminal or in city buses. Because the only thing that Ali Sadikin wants to get is the anxiety of his citizens.

The points of concern that he got, were then put into a solution: a policy. Even if he does not make a visit, he prefers to spend time reading the newspaper in the morning. According to him, the newspaper is an up-to-date aspiration space for Jakarta residents. Solution space, especially.

"Of course. Most often I read it in the newspaper, in the form of articles or letters from readers. So, every morning I wake up, I'm already facing a pile of newspapers with red marker in hand. Which one is related to the DKI Regional Government, I will cross out, sreeet, sreeet. Then, I immediately called the head of the department or department in charge. I asked, why is it like this? He should be able to explain satisfactorily.”

“The DKI Regional Government is like a company. I am the president director, the people represented by the DPRD are the shareholders. Therefore, if there is a DPRD meeting, I and all the staff are required to attend. If a DPRD member talks about something, I can immediately ask the staff in charge for an explanation. So, all DPRD members are satisfied and no one is trying to vilify me,” said Ali Sadikin as compiled by Ramadhan KH in the book Press Asking, Bang Ali Answering (1995).

Expansion of DKI Jakarta

Criticism and input began to come to Bang Ali. Some of them were rejected, some of them which were felt to have a significant impact were applied. The proposal from the central government, represented by the Minister of Human Settlements and Construction, David Gie Cheng (1964-1966), for example. At that time, David Gie Cheng had the idea of expanding Jakarta to Ciawi, Bogor, Bekasi, and Tangerang.

However, Bang Ali rejected the idea from the central government. He tries to simplify or modify the idea. Bang Ali tactics. he asked his team to immediately determine which areas had great potential to enter Jakarta. As a result, Depok has the most potential to enter Jakarta. Depok is also side by side with Cibinong and Bekasi.

It may be that the proposal was initially initiated by the central government, but Bang Ali is still the one who went ahead. The central government is considered by Bang Ali as not acting in a real way. The central government stagnates, both mentally and materially. Bang Ali try to walk alone. He tried to summarize the Governor of West Java Solihin GP to discuss the expansion of Jakarta.

Bake away from fire. Ali Sadikin's proposal was flatly rejected. West Java is reluctant to give up its territory even if it's a little. In fact, Bang Ali has seen that the role of West Java in developing the region is not that great. It is different if the construction is carried out by the DKI Jakarta government.

Depok City, West Java as seen from the air. (Wikimedia Commons)

This refusal comes at a price. Even now. As a result of not joining Cibinong, Depok, Bekasi, development in the buffer zone of Jakarta is often disconnected from the center. Moreover, the scale of development priorities of each region is different. And it makes it difficult to bring breakthroughs to the mobility of people in Jabodetabek.

"I don't agree with the (central government) idea. Even Pak Mashudi, the former governor of West Java, knows about my disapproval. At the same time, I feel that the former Jakarta boundaries must be changed. Because of what? Because the lines are not right. Usually the boundary should be physically clear. For example, rivers, mountains, or roads. For example, if we go from Jakarta (from Grogol) to Tangerang, suddenly we enter the Tangerang (West Java) area, after that we enter the Jakarta area again, and after that we enter the West Java area again."

“Well, such a limit must be changed, straightened. So I ordered the DKI staff to see how good the extent of it was. so my staff then suggested that Cibinong enter DKI, Depok to enter DKI, Bekasi to enter DKI. I proposed that line during a meeting with the Governor of West Java, Solihin GP," closed Ali Sadikin as Ramadhan KH wrote in the book Bang Ali: For the sake of Jakarta 1966-1977 (1992).