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Native Jakartan community gives 'abang' title to Anies-Sandi
The Betawi Consultative Body (Bamus Betawi) has granted the title of abang (brother) to Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno.
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Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan (center) and Bukit Duri residents pose for a photo at City Hall in Jakarta. (Kompas.com/Jessi Carina)
T
he Betawi Consultative Body (Bamus Betawi) has granted the title of abang (brother) to Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno.
“Besides their political positions as the governor and deputy governor, both have a good relationship with the Betawi community,” said Bamus Betawi chairman Zainudin in the Betawi cultural area of Setu Babakan in South Jakarta over the weekend.
The community has also given the title of mpok (sister) to their wives, Fery Farhati Ganis and Nur Asia Uno.
Anies and Sandiaga received tiger nail chains during the ceremony as a symbolic token that the Betawi society had accepted them as a part of the family.
Zainudin said Anies and Sandi had worked with Bamus Betawi for years.
“This is the first time we’ve conferred the titles simultaneously on the governor and deputy governor. In the past, we only awarded the titles to [Jakarta] governors,” he was quoted as saying by kompas.com.
Bamus Betawi awarded the same title to former governors Ali Sadikin, Tjokropranolo, and Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
However, the title was never given to Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who was Jakarta’s governor from 2014 to 2017.
"[We had] no chance to grant the title to Ahok,” Zainuddin said.
Bamus Betawi was reportedly involved in a dispute with Ahok, with the latter having threatened to pull the financial plug on the organization owing to its political stance that went against the city administration's policies.
However, Zainuddin claimed the dispute ended peacefully. The association still receives funding from the city budget. (dmr)
