The Jakarta Post
Ushered to the top primarily by the authorities, Jakarta’s native ethnic Betawi are now basking in a revival era as the conquerors of Jakarta’s lucrative underworld business, after decades of merely enjoying the leftovers. The Jakarta Post’s Rendi A. Witular and Andra Wisnu investigate the changing landscape of the capital’s seedy underbelly, which by nature is the meticulous creation of political parties, law enforcers and bureaucrats. Here are the stories:Seven senior members of a Maluku gang under the patronage of the late Basri Sangaji wait patiently for three hours to meet with Abraham Lunggana, popularly known as Haji Lulung, the new ruler of the Tanah Abang trade compound — Southeast Asia’s largest textile and garment distribution center.Arriving at his headquarter, tucked next to the Millennium Hotel on Jl. Fachrudin in Central Jakarta, Lulung is greeted by several me...