Ali Sadikin

Ali Sadikin (7 July 1928 – 20 May 2008) was an Indonesian politician of Sundanese background. He was often called Bang Ali. He served as the governor of Jakarta, the country's capital, from 1966 to 1977. He would be known as the longest-serving governor of Jakarta from 1966-1977. Appointed by Sukarno, he likely had the full approval of Suharto. A former officer in the Indonesian Marine Corps, he saw the city as a battlefield.[2] He sought to improve public services, clear out slum dwellers, ban becaks (cycle rickshaws), and outlaw street peddlers.[3] Sadikin's role in bulldozing poor areas of Jakarta was part of a long history of struggle over land use in the region [4] Through legislation, Sadikin successfully wrested control over large amounts of poor housing. These areas he gave at minimal cost to developers such as the Jaya Group.[5] For Abidin Kusno,[6] Sadikin was part of a modernist program to attack irrationality, criminalize poverty, and create obedient national citizens. At the same time, he sought to kampung-ize city dwellers—to reinvest them with village sociality and mutual aid (gotong royong).[7]

Ali Sadikin
7th Governor of Jakarta
In office 28 April 1966 – 5 July 1977
President	Sukarno Suharto
Preceded by	Soemarno Sosroatmodjo
Succeeded by	Tjokropranolo
16th Transportation Minister of Indonesia[1]
In office 13 November 1963 – 28 March 1966
President	Sukarno
Preceded by	Abdoelmoettalip Danoeningrat
Succeeded by	Susatyo Mardi
1st Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs of Indonesia
In office 27 August 1964 – 28 March 1966
President	Sukarno
Succeeded by	Jatidjan
8th Chairman of PSSI
In office 1977–1981
President	Suharto
Preceded by	Moehono
Succeeded by	Sjarnoebi Said
Personal details
Born	(1928-07-07)7 July 1928 Sumedang, West Java, Dutch East Indies
Died	20 May 2008(2008-05-20) (aged 79) Singapore
Nationality	Indonesia
Spouse(s)	Nani Arnasih (1954–1986) (until her death) Linda Syamsuddin Mangan (1987–2008) (until his death)
Children	Boy Bernardi Sadikin Edi Trisnadi Sadikin Irawan Hernadi Sadikin Benyamin Irwansyah Sadikin Yasser Umarsyah Sadikin
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Indonesia
Branch/service	Indonesian Navy
Years of service	1945–1966
Rank	TNI Lieutenant General
Unit	KKO

Sadikin also tried to halt migration into Jakarta by declaring the city closed to newcomers. He issued residency cards in hope of enforcing the policy, but failed to curtail population growth.[8] One of the earliest and most outspoken advocates of family planning, Sadikin showed that Muslim groups would support these policies.[9] Under Sadikin, Jakartan pilgrimage to Mecca and other holy places surged.[10] Hungry for revenue for his projects, Sadikin legalized gambling and steambaths (de facto brothels), much to the outrage of many Muslim groups.[11] During the 1960s he founded an advocacy group for the waria.[12] Although Sadikin's restructuring of land in Jakarta displaced countless urban poor, he also advocated for the LBH, the Legal Aid Society; an organization which was used by both the private sector and the urban poor. After having allegedly "allowed" Golkar to lose an election in Jakarta, Sadikin was removed from office.[13] Despite Sadikin's heavy-handed urban reforms, he is often cited as a popular leader.[14] In 1978, mass student protests embroiled the capital, and students nominated Sadikin as an alternative president.[15]

In 1980, Sadikin helped found and lead the Petition of Fifty, a group of powerful and highly influential critics of the New Order. He regularly hosted their meetings at his home. Though he remained a resolute statist in favor of militarism, he opposed Suharto's consolidation of power in the government and military (ABRI).[16] It is likely that Sadikin's stature and popularity both bolstered the Petition of Fifty and helped to shield it from more severe repression.

Sadikin died in Singapore on 20 May 2008.[17]