Jakarta Mulls Involving Locals in Tanah Abang Development

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta -  Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, says he is still considering the suggestion to involve "anak wilayah” (local youngsters) to heighten security at the new Tanah Abang market area following the recent relocation of street vendors.

He says the DKI Jakarta administration is still reviewing the positive and negative aspects if such a role is given to these people.

"Anak wilayah", locally known as local youngsters, consists of vendors at the market who have been selling their goods and keeping order at this location from generation to generation.

Aside from being vendors, these locals were often considered as thugs or rulers of Tanah Abang vendors.

Jokowi says his administration does not want to rush into making a decision on whether it will involve these locals any further. The anak wilayah currently have the role of helping the city verify the vendors in this area, which is crucial to ensuring that those who are relocated are the rightful vendors.

The vendors that have the right to be relocated are official residents of Jakarta who have been selling their goods in Tanah Abang for a long time.

On a separate occassion, Deputy Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, more popularly known as Ahok, asserted that the involvement of "anak wilayah" in the new structure of the Tanah Abang market was not the administration’s current priority.

Ahok reminded the public that former governor Sutiyoso attempted to implement this role during his reign, yet failed. He said at that time, vendors were still crowding the streets and the locals hired to keep order still imposed illegal levies on the vendors.

"Which means that the option failed. I think the governor (Jokowi) will not consider this option," he said. "The Jakarta administration is currently focusing more on how to promote Blok G first."

Previously, Tanah Abang sub-district chief Hidayatullah proposed the involvement of 75 Tanah Abang locals, or anak wilayah, as security guards in the area, which is set to be developed as an international trade center.

He believed these locals had the potential to lure the vendors back onto the streets, which could be prevented if the administration decided to involve them in the city’s developments.

ANGGRITA DESYANI | SYAILENDRA | WURAGIL