Ali Sadikin And President Suharto Open The Second Jakarta Fair Celebration In History Today, June 14, 1969

President Soeharto and Mrs. Tien Suharto opened the Jakarta Fair II on June 14, 1969.

JAKARTA – History today, 53 years ago, June 14, 1969, Ali Sadikin and President Soeharto opened the Jakarta Fair (Pekan Raya Jakarta). The opening was done by pressing a button that blamed electricity throughout the exhibition area. This celebration is the second time the Jakarta Fair has been held.

Previously, Ali Sadikin wanted to bring back the crowd at Gambir Market. An event in the Dutch era that was held to commemorate the coronation of Queen Wilhelmina. Gambir Market is often crowded and famous in its day.

Since the Dutch era, Batavia has never been short of entertainment. Those in power always have a ploy to create their own entertainment scene. Even the night market class was often taken seriously by the Dutch East Indies colonial government. Gambir market name.

Mrs. Tien Suharto visits a furniture stand at the 1977 APHJ/PRJ Jakarta Fair. (National Library)

The event was started in 1906. The celebration was held to commemorate the coronation of Queen Wilhelmina on August 31, 1898. It was also held from August 31 to mid-September every year at Koningsplein (now: the National Monument area). The event then became the event that all the residents of Batavia had been waiting for.

Its complete entertainment is the main attraction. Moreover, Gambir Market promises entertainment for children to adults. From boxing matches to music stages. When Indonesia became independent, the concept of the event was not immediately eliminated. The Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ali Sadikin, who served from 1966-1977, often echoes the splendor of Gambir Market. because, he is always told by his brothers about the excitement of the night market.

Instead of just hearing about Ali Sadikin, he created his own version of Pasar Gambir in 1968. The name was Jakarta Fair. The celebration was carried out in order to celebrate Jakarta's Birthday. The Jakarta Fair also lasted for approximately two months in a row.

Jakarta Fair Opening 1969. (Perspusnas)

“Those memories opened my mind to hold the Jakarta Fair in Jakarta. That's how it was originally called: Jakarta Fair. But in the middle of the trip I changed the name to the Jakarta Fair.”

“Together with the effort to reduce the designations in foreign languages in the midst of life in this capital city. Yes, there are times when I raise my voice to use more names in foreign languages,” said Ali Sadikin as written by Ramadhan KH in the book Bang Ali: Demi Jakarta 1966-1977 (1992).

Ali Sadikin thinks that the Jakarta Fair is a place that is really needed by its citizens. Because, Jakarta itself does not have an abundance of entertainment venues. The arrival of the Jakarta Fair is also considered as an effort to provide entertainment venues in Jakarta. Even if the implementation is only two months each year.

The Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ali Sadikin accompanied President Soeharto and Mrs. Tien in the opening of Jakarta Fair I 1968. (Library Sinar Harapan)

At the inauguration of the first Jakarta Fair in 1968, President Soeharto was pleased to be present to witness Jakarta's big celebration. Likewise at the second Jakarta Fair celebration in 1969.

Suharto was not only a guest, but he and Ali Sadikin joined in opening the big celebration by symbolically pressing a button that turned on the electricity throughout the exhibition area. Tien Suharto's mother also took part by cutting the ribbon, marking the official opening of the 1969 Jakarta Fair.

"Saturday, June 14, President Soeharto accompanied by the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ali Sadikin and the chairman of the organizers, Ir. Oemar Tusin, this afternoon opened the 1969 Jakarta Fair, by pressing a button that turned on the lighting in the entire exhibition area," it is written in Pak Harto's book Footsteps: March 28, 1968-March 23, 1973 (1991).