Satire Mochtar Lubis Due To Circular Power Outage In Jakarta In History Today, October 3, 1972

Alerts at an old power substation belonging to PLN

JAKARTA History today, 51 years ago, October 3, 1972, Mochtar Lubis threw his satire at the State Electricity Company (PLN) in DKI Jakarta. The criticism was perpetuated over the weeks-long rotating power outage.

Previously, the turnover was PLN's tactic to meet the electricity needs throughout Jakarta. Lack of facilities and infrastructure is the reason. The unpopular policy has received criticism there and there. However, there has been no significant change.

Jakarta's challenges that wanted to transform into a Metropolitan City were not small in the 1970s. There are many problems that must be resolved by the central government and provincial governments. Mainly, the issue of the availability of access to electricity to Jakarta residents.

Instead of being satisfied with its performance, PLN's steps often provoke emotions. PLN is considered to often make policies that harm Jakarta residents with a rotating power outage strategy. Residents understand that it is a tactic to outsmart the electricity needs of Jakarta residents.

Everything was done to answer issues related to production capacity and lack of distribution infrastructure to supply power. However, this step led to criticism from here and there. PLN is considered insensitive to the condition of the residents.

Rotating power outages are considered to cause many problems. The blackout did not only disturb Jakarta residents from enjoying entertainment, television, radio, and others. Moreover, rotating blackouts have stopped many economic activities.

This condition got worse when the blackouts were being carried out for a longer time. Jakarta residents began shouting condemning the incompetent PLN. Let alone the citizens of Jakarta, the DKI Jakarta government is also angry. Ali Sadikin, for example.

The governor of DKI Jakarta in the era of 1966-1977 felt that the power outage problem interfered with the existence of Jakarta's development. However, Ali Sadikin could not do much. PLN has its own mechanism to provide electric power for Jakarta residents.

Ali can only help PLN by preparing the lands for the substation location. The assessment was carried out so that the problem of extinguishing did not drag on.

"Regarding electricity, I can't do much. It depends on the Center, on the Department of Public Works for Electricity (PUTL). At that time I understood how PLN is potential. So I just urge and urge, when I have to support and solve industrial problems that will be built, in addition to solving people's demands.

What I can do is help provide land for the location of the substations. Other parties just build on it. If those who have to find a place, next to the funds for them are not there, it is also difficult to get them. In this case, I integrate it with village improvement projects with an electricity plan to enter the village," explained Ali Sadikin as written by Ramadhan KH in the book Bang Ali: Demi Jakarta 1966-1977 (1992).

The DKI Jakarta government's support for PLN is in fact not enough. The rotating blackout is still ongoing. In fact, for weeks. Jakarta residents were furious. Many cornered PLN. In fact, through serious criticism.

Criticism also emerged from the Editor-in-Chief of the Great Indonesia News Letter, Mochtar Lubis. The national press figure witnessed for himself how angry the citizens of Jakarta were with PLN. However, Mochtar Lubis is not as usual. He refused to press the government with harsh criticism.

Instead, he chose to use satire to expose PLN's inability to improve on existing problems. He wrote the criticism in a title entitled Senyum, Smile, Smile at the Great Indonesia News Letter, which was published on October 3, 1972.

If all swearing and annoyance can be toxic, I hope all PLN employees in Jakarta have been completely destroyed. We get bored too, because every time we meet friends, then of course the matter of electricity becomes bait and complaints. it's all right for us in Jakarta to realize seriously that this matter of electricity is a matter of toughness and will stay with us for some time.

"There is no point in cursing, annoying, scolding people who are considered responsible. Everything just annoys yourself. All of this will not make the city of Jakarta clear. We propose that we just be positive on this matter. Take advantage of both the bright night and the dark night as well as possible," explained Mochtar Lubis as quoted in the book Show Mochtar Lubis in the Daily Indonesia Volume 3(2022).