"WHEN you first visited and interviewed my uncle and I in Tanah Abang, Pak Karim, things were very different. It was dirtier and rougher. The 'preman' (or street thugs) would turn up all the time. They would take food and ask for money. Nowadays and since my uncle retired nearly four years ago to Pemalang (in Central Java), leaving me to run the bakso stall myself, they've pretty much disappeared."
Pak Udin speaks in between serving patrons, many of whom just pop in for takeaway.
Despite having lived in Jakarta for most of his adult life, his spoken Indonesian is heavily accented with the plangent tones of a Javanese background.
"At the same time," he continues, "The city administration is more straightforward and organized. It's not just that things are cleaner, it's also the police, the fire brigade and other government services – they've all improved! You don't have to pay the Ketua RT (a local official) to sign forms.”
"In the past it was all about money. But now if you see rubbish or something wrong, you just take a photograph and send it through an online App called QLUE and they'll respond. Plus the complainant's name and number aren't revealed either."
There’s some truth to this. Tanah Abang an area once known for its gangs and lawlessness has undergone a clean-up.
The roads are no longer crammed with illegal street-vendors and the famous wholesale textile market is far more accessible than ever before.
Now, thirty-four year-old Pak Udin has witnessed the steady transformation of this densely-populated (at 31,000 people per square kilometre) and predominantly Muslim neighbourhood under the aegis of the hard-talking (some would say foul-mouthed) Governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok.
Pak Udin and his wife Ibu Sri Yani are particularly impressed by the Kartu Jakarta Pintar, an ATM card-like facility that provides parents (generally the mother) with a stipend to use on a child's expenses, with the bimonthly funds ranging from IDR150,000—350,000.
"Everything you buy with the card must be for the child. You have to keep the receipts and hand them over to the teacher."
In a country with a notorious reputation for corruption, both young parents are clearly in awe at the professionalism of the scheme.
Still, I am a little surprised at their enthusiasm for Ahok given the overwhelming coverage of the blasphemy allegations against him.
I ask them whether they, as Muslims, haven't been turned-off the combative ethnic Chinese and Christian Governor.
"We are discussing the leader of an administration, not religion," Pak Udin explains, "This is about electing a Governor and an administrator, not a religious teacher. We must assess how well each of the three candidates performs and their programs.”
"Ahok gets things done. Automatically, those below him also get things done. With Ahok, we've seen him in action and experienced the results."
Surprised by his steadfastness, I probe further: "Don't you think he blasphemed?"
"I have watched the video and I don't think so. The people who are demonstrating have all sorts of different intentions. Not everyone wants Ahok locked up. Many of my neighbours from Tanah Abang tagged along to the demonstration on 4 November. They were just curious. In the event most were back by 3:00 PM.”
"Because I'm here all the time I listen a lot. We get all sorts of people at the warung – those who like Ahok, those who don't like him, supporters of Agus Yudhoyono and Anies Baswedan. During the 2014 Presidential Elections, this area was strongly for Prabowo."
The Javanese (at 36.2% of the population) are by far the largest ethnic group in the ten million-strong Indonesian capital, outnumbering the once-dominant local Betawi community.
Their perceptions of Ahok, his track record and the blasphemy case could well be the critical factor in the upcoming Jakarta polls.
Understated and often hard to “read”, it would be unwise to presume that they necessarily share the views of those who are demanding Ahok's immediate detention.
So, as Jakartans brace themselves for Friday's demonstration, it's important to remember that the city is less monochrome and infinitely more diverse than the gleaming white apparel worn by the supporters of the Front Pembela Islam (Islamic Defenders Front, FPI) and the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Council’s Fatwa (GNPF-MUI), many of whom don't actually live in the city.
As Pak Udin said just before we parted, "This isn't a nation of just one religion, it's a nation of many religions."
Karim Raslan
Thu Dec 01 2016
Pak Udin sells bakso gepeng, different from bakso solo which has garlic and pepper, at his stall. - Karim Raslan Photo
Chegubard didakwa di Mahkamah Sesyen KL esok - Peguam
Badrul Hisham Shaharin atau dikenali Chegubard akan didakwa di Mahkamah Sesyen Kuala Lumpur esok atas pertuduhan memfitnah dan menghasut.
Pulau Pinang, kerajaan pusat bekerjasama tarik pelaburan semikonduktor
Kerajaan Pulau Pinang akan bekerjasama dengan Kerajaan Persekutuan untuk meneruskan usaha menarik pelaburan dalam sektor semikonduktor, termasuk segmen reka bentuk litar bersepadu (IC) di negeri itu.
Rakyat Malaysia di Jordan jadi duta produk PMKS negara
Menteri Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi Datuk Ewon Benedick menyarankan rakyat Malaysia yang menetap di Jordan supaya memainkan peranan sebagai “duta” untuk mempromosikan produk perusahaan mikro kecil dan sederhana (PMKS) SERTA koperasi negara.
Mohamed Khaled tiba di Indonesia, dijadual bertemu Prabowo
Menteri Pertahanan Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin tiba di Jakarta hari ini untuk lawatan kerja rasmi sulung beliau ke Indonesia sejak memegang jawatan itu.
SPRM mohon maklumat dari Jerman
Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) memohon maklumat terkini daripada pihak berkuasa Jerman mengenai dana bon 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) yang dipercayai digunakan untuk membeli kereta mewah di negara itu pada 26 Okt 2022.
SPRM siasat pemimpin kanan di utara tanah air
Seorang pemimpin kanan di utara tanah air disiasat Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) kerana disyaki melantik beberapa syarikat yang mempunyai kepentingan dengannya membabitkan beberapa projek pembekalan melibatkan peruntukan kira-kira RM300,000.
Kembangkan kandungan tempatan melalui AI
Menurut Setiausaha Agung Organisasi Kerjasama Digital (DCO) Deemah Al Yahya, terdapat 2.7 peratus daripada penduduk dunia tidak berhubung malah tidak mempunyai sambungan asas internet. Beliau turut berkata infrastruktur pengkomputeran setiap negara perlu mempunyai kemampuan untuk mengembangkan kandungan tempatan khususnya yang melibatkan penggunaan AI.
AI tidak dapat ganti guru
Menteri Pendidikan Rwanda, Gaspard Twagirayezu berkata kepesatan teknologi AI dalam pendidikan tidak dapat menggantikan guru malah membantu guru dalam menyediakan bahan pengajaran yang bermanfaat kepada pelajar.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Ahad, 28 April 2024.
Mesyuarat Khas WEF: Dunia perlukan persaingan sihat dalam transisi ke Orde Baharu - Menteri Luar Arab Saudi
Menteri Luar Negeri Arab Saudi, Putera Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud berkata dunia memerlukan persaingan sihat dalam transisi daripada Orde Dunia Lama kepada Orde Baharu. Jelasnya, persaingan ini akan memberi manfaat dalam bentuk kos pengeluaran lebih rendah, perkembangan inovasi dan pelaburan lebih baik. #MesyuaratKhasWEF #WEF
Ceritalah: Sejarah berulang dengan gunung berapi Taal
Pemandangan ketika Taal meletup dan imej-imej semarak debu yang besar dan menakutkan naik ke arah langit diiringi dengan kilatan guruh dan petir yang disebarkan ke seluruh dunia oleh media sosial.
Ceritalah: Tuntutan China atas Laut China Selatan - ASEAN harus bersatu
Pada tahun 2016, pemimpin-pemimpin dunia memandang Beijing dan beliau sebagai suatu hab alternatif - bagi suatu pendekatan terhadap ekonomi dan politik global yang berprinsip dan seimbang.
Ceritalah ASEAN - Joko Anwar: Cemerlang atas usaha sendiri
Tarikannya dan citra jenakanya menyembunyikan suatu minda yang amat bekerja keras dan berfokus.
Ceritalah - Perang dadah Duterte: Rakyat suram sambut Krismas
Kerana enggan kekal diam dan menerima takdir berdarah anaknya, Normita terpaksa meninggalkan rumahnya dan sekarang tinggal bersama seorang sanak saudaranya di bahagian lain bandar itu.
Ceritalah ASEAN - Aung San Suu Kyi: Lannister atau Stark?
Aung San Suu Kyi dari Myanmar - anak seorang jeneral, mengetuai sebuah negara amat rapuh telah menjadi musuh Tatmadaw (tentera) untuk menjadi apologis atau, lebih teruk lagi, pemudah mereka.
Ceritalah ASEAN - Plastik: Patut dikekalkan atau dihapuskan?
Gabungan pendapatan dari 50 firma petrokimia teratas dalam tahun 2018 adalah ASD926.8 bilion, jauh melebihi industri penapisan berjumlah ASD400 bilion.
Ceritalah Indonesia - Jawa: Mengenai bahasa dan perpaduan
Secara berasingan, kesemua tujuh presiden Indonesia mempunyai darah Jawa - termasuk BJ Habibie kelahiran Sulawesi yang baru meninggal. BJ Habibie adalah separuh Jawa.
Ceritalah - Enam hari di laut: Suatu pelayaran di atas Nggapulu
Dari saat para penumpang menaiki feri lapan tingkat itu, Nggapulu menjadi suatu mikrokosmo republik itu sendiri.
Ceritalah Indonesia - Anak muda memberontak: Apa mereka mahu?
Antara 23 dan 30 September, Hamzah adalah salah seorang daripada ribuan pelajar yang membuat bantahan di luar Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) menghidupkan semula ingatan pada waktu Reformasi.
Ceritalah: Gelombang kemasukan pelancong India ke Asia Tenggara
Sementara ekonomi India mungkin menghadapi kemerosotannya sendiri, pelancong dari gergasi Asia Selatan itu menjadi kuasa yang semakin perlu diiktiraf di rantau Asia Tenggara.