Mbah (Grandfather) Priok’s tombstone was relocated from Koja to Semper cemetery, both in North Jakarta, in 1997, but the relocation left a smoldering dispute between the late Mbah Priok’s self-acclaimed heirs and state-owned seaport operator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) II.
Years of conflict culminated in a violent confrontation on Wednesday when hundreds of residents clashed in a gang-like street-fight with 2,000 Jakarta public order officers.
Two fatalities were reported in the incident. More than 100 people reportedly sustained injuries in
the clashes that lasted from morning to afternoon.
What is so special about Mbah Priok so that locals put respect to him first while taking on massed public order officers?
Local residents believe that Mbah Priok, whose real name was Arif Billah Hasan bin Muhammad Al Haddad, inspired the name of Tanjung Priok district, also used to name the country’s largest port, located in North Jakarta.
According to local folklore, Al Haddad or Mbah Priok was a Muslim ulema who was born in 1727 in Palembang, South Sumatra. He and another ulema traveled to Batavia, the old name of Jakarta, to spread Islamic teachings during the Dutch colonial period, in 1756. During the two-month tour by boat, the group of preachers faced a number of life-threatening obstacles, including an attack by Dutch troops and huge waves.
Their boat was reportedly stranded on an unnamed beach with Al Haddad found dead. The other ulemas were still alive when the residents found them. Lying beside them were a paddle and a priok (a traditional rice pot), among the items reportedly carried by Al Haddad. The residents put the paddle on the tomb of Al Haddad and the priok on the side of his tomb. The paddle was then believed to transform into a Tanjung tree while the priok was swept away by the waves into the sea.
The locals believe that the priok would re-appear from the sea but as big as a house, every three or four years. They later named the area, Tanjung Priok.
The graveyard was moved to a place, which became the Koja Container Terminal because the Dutch were developing Tanjung Priok Port.
There was a legend that the relocation had cost the lives of many Dutch soldiers, who died suddenly prompting the Dutch ruler to ask a helping hand from local ulemas to help relocate the graveyard to Jl. Dobo in Koja.
The graveyard was later taken care of by the family of Al Haddad in Palembang, South Sumatra, who had moved to Java.
Years later, the dispute began.
Deputy Governor Prijanto said Pelindo had certificates proving land ownership and won a legal battle at the North Jakarta District Court on June 5, 2002.
Prijanto said the heirs of Mbah Priok did not appeal until the period to appeal ran out, so the verdict against them was legal.
With the approval of the Home Ministry, the city administration in 1997 relocated the graves, including that of Al Haddad, to Semper cemetery also in North Jakarta.
In 1999, some pilgrims rebuilt Al Haddad’s memorial and place of prayer. Prijanto said Pelindo later asked the administration to help dismantle the illegal structures because the company wanted to expand the container terminal.
