S

itting in a wheelchair and accompanied by several relatives, veteran artist, puppeteer and story teller Suyadi went to City Hall on Friday morning.

Eighty-year-old Suyadi, better known as Pak Raden '€” the character he created for the hit TV series Si Unyil '€” had one purpose; to sell a painting to Jakarta Governor Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo to raise funds for his medical treatment.

'€œIf he wants to buy it, I will use the money to treat my sore leg and to fund the puppet cartoon that I am working on,'€ he said.

Suyadi is suffering from osteoarthritis, a degenerative bone disease, that has made it difficult for him to walk.

He said that his illness had prevented him from finishing his project, which he started in the 1980s, of making cartoons that introduce wayang kulit (leather puppets) and wayang orang (Javanese traditional opera) to children.

Many people, from squatters to businessmen, come to City Hall to meet with Jokowi to file complaints or request help.

Suyadi, in traditional Javanese attire, said he wanted to continue his project if his health improved, adding that the project needed funds, time and energy.

'€œThat'€™s why I want to ngamen [raise money through the arts] and sell my painting,'€ he said.

He said that the painting, entitled Perang Kembang (Flower War), depicted the fight between legendary warrior Arjuna and evil giant Buto Cakil in the epic Mahabharata, symbolizing good versus evil.

Suyadi'€™s manager Prasodjo Chusnanto said the painting was priced at Rp 60 million (US$5,220).

Unfortunately, Suyadi could not meet with Jokowi as the latter was attending an event with Bank Indonesia Governor Agus Martowardojo at Tanah Abang Market in Central Jakarta.

After singing for reporters, he finally met with Deputy Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama.

He said Ahok welcomed him and promised him to help arrange a meeting with the governor next week.

'€œI am glad because I believe that Jokowi is a leader who takes care of his constituents,'€ he said.

Separately, Ahok said he discussed puppets with Suyadi. '€œHe wants to make books about puppets as many young people have forgotten about the old traditions,'€ he said, adding that it was a good idea.

Suyadi made his return to television when his long-standing demand for royalties from his puppet creations in the hit series that ran for more than 600 episodes from 1979 to 1991 from the State Film Production Company (PFN) came to light last year with the help of fans and supporters.

State-owned Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan once offered compensation of Rp 10 million monthly to the artist but he rejected the offer.