Culture Agency Keeps Getting Aspirations Regarding Preservation of Betawi Culture

In the meantime, the Al-Alam Mosque caretaker near the location proposes improvements around the area of cultural heritage

The Jakarta Culture Agency collected the aspirations voiced by citizens, public leaders and cultural figures in the effort to preserve Betawi culture, Monday (3/9).

It was done during a visit to a number of cultural heritage locations in North Jakarta, last weekend. Those cultural heritages were si Pitung's House and Al-Alam Mosque in Marunda, Kramat Luar Batang Mosque and Kampung Bandan in Penjaringan.

Legislator Collects Aspirations of Thousand Islands Residents

Jakarta Culture Agency Head Iwan Henry Wardhana said the first visit collected several aspirations about additional supporting facilities in Pitung's House area in the form of Betawi ornaments. Citizens in RW 07 Marunda also wanted to be involved in events at the location.

"In the meantime, the Al-Alam Mosque caretaker near the location proposes improvements around the area of cultural heritage," he said.

His party also collected the pesilat (martial arts fighters) aspirations while attending the Silat Betara College (Betawi North Jakarta) event in Malaka Urban Village.

"I see many padepokan Betawi martial arts are active. These fighters request for mattress aid and other aids for martial arts training," he explained.

His party also absorbed aspirations during a dialogue with the management of the Kramat Luar Batang Mosque.

"They request for the arrangement of infrastructure and facilities, considering many residents from various regions who come on pilgrimage," he told.

In the meantime, Betawi art and culture Observer M Ichwan Ridwan Boim hoped that the agency could continue to conduct breakthrough and innovation to not only preserve, but also develop Betawi cultural arts in Jakarta.

"Especially in North Jakarta, I want a Coastal Betawi Culture Village. It could be one of the new tourist destinations, while simultaneously driving the economy," he told.

He went on to say that the Jakarta Provincial Government also should make policies that increasingly support the preservation and development of Betawi art and culture.

"I think it needs gubernatorial regulations that can regulate and be more specific implementation instructions, especially regulation on Betawi martial arts, Betawi culinary until Betawi ornament," expressed Boim, who is also a Betawi public leader in North Jakarta.

He hoped that Betawi Batik could be done in the city government, starting from the provincial to the urban village level.

"It can be a part of the promotion of Betawi arts and culture which will have many positive effects on the craftsmen," he uttered.

Moreover, the students should also be given learning material related to Betawi art and culture. Considering, it was very important thus future generations could also contribute to the preservation and development of Betawi art and culture.

"Equally important, of course, is that supervision, implementation in the field must be carried out in the field," he stated.