Is Kampung Akuarium a cultural heritage area or a historical tourist site?
The head of Jakarta's Human Settlements, Land and Spatial Planning Department, Heru Hermawanto, said the Kampung Akuarium land was owned by the Jakarta provincial government and could be allotted accordingly.
He emphasised that the village's construction did not violate the cultural heritage area, and the historical sites were still maintained.
"The development was permitted under one of the regional regulations concerning spatial planning and zoning," said Jakarta's Public Housing and Settlement Areas acting head Sarjoko, adding that "the village is in the sub-zone of the regional administration and such development is allowed".
Another Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan team also asserted that Kampung Akuarium was not a cultural heritage.
In regards to finding several objects (building foundations, ceramics, plates and tiles) during the excavation, he confirmed that those were historical objects, not a heritage as a whole.
Jakarta Restoration Team head Bambang Eryudhawan clarified that the construction project was permitted by the Restoration, Cultural Heritage and Urban Architecture Expert Team after considering the heritage and public settlement.
He added that Kampung Akuarium's cultural area was damaged during the evictions carried out during Basuki Tjahaja Purnam's enture, where buildings were demolished without involving cultural heritage experts or the city's public housing and settlement agency.
Other critics pointed to Anies' electability for the 2024 presidential election. So far, his is one the most popular names among citizens, according to the Indonesian Survey Circle, alongside Ridwan Kamil (West Java governor) and Ganjar Pranowo (Central Java governor).
A public policy observer from Trisakti University, Trubus Rahadiansyah, suspected a political motive behind this plan, taking the side of those evicted to augment his electoral chances. Some regional members of parliament claimed that the development sought sympathy, instead of professional considerations.
However, it seems Anies himself is not paying heed to what critics are saying. He said the project was not by outsiders, but a collaboration with the community. It will be a good example of how a community arranges its own villages, suited to the existing regulations.
The result is an effort that is in line with Indonesia's independence promise. "It is a realisation of the fifth pillar of our 'Pancasila' (Five Principles, the official philosophical state ideology of Indonesia), which is a social justice for all Indonesian people," said Anies.
Through the development, children in Kampung Akuarium can live comfortably and have a better future, he added. Anies also told parents to encourage their children to study well.
"The government is ready to facilitate them. Uplift their dreams, work hard as their parents did. Then encourage them to go beyond the dreams," said Anies, who was the education minister.
Dharma Diyani, a resident and coordinator of Kampung Akuarium forum, feels grateful to the Jakarta government for realising residents' dream to have decent home after a long struggle, leaving the "slum" to live better.
She said the design offered a different concept from the typical low-cost subsidised flats, which were usually inhumane.
Residents planned to allocate a mini gallery to showcase their struggles.
"Perhaps our grandchildren will see that and prove a sustainable kampung susun does exist. We are capable to manage and develop it for our better prosperity," said Diyani.
One of the obstacles to housing development is that not all residents are accustomed to living in apartments. The private sector and the government build 16 floors or more of apartments whereas the middle- and lower-class residents are accustomed to living in landed houses.
Kampung Akuarium is expected to be an example of a transition to a vertical residence. The success of the people's lives there will inspire residents in other urban villages that living in vertical housing is not as bad as living in a government-owned apartment.
In the future, the development of mid-rise housing, such as Kampung Akuarium, will encourage the transformation of Jakarta into vertical housing, making Jakarta denser upwards to create new public spaces .
Besides encouraging people to move to higher housing, collaboration is the key to encouraging people to want to live vertically. In planning Kampung Akuarium, the government should not pretend to know everything; community architects, non-governmental organisations, and the people of Kampung Akuarium are resourceful.
In rebuilding Kampung Akuarium collaboration is critical. The construction of Kampung Akuarium is a collaboration of three parties — the private sector, government, and citizens. Residents are involved. Develop basic designs with accompanying architects to create housing that follows the characteristics and habits of residents; the government arranges its bureaucratic agenda, and the private sector provides funds and expertise.
Collaboration is key to increasing a sense of belonging among residents so that development can run smoothly and the transition to a denser Jakarta can be carried out.
When the pandemic is under control, Kampung Akuarium residents should be ready to receive tourists, as it was initiated to be another historical site, together with other popular tourist destinations such as Pasar Ikan, Kota Tua, and Masjid Keramat Luar Batang.
The writer is a medical doctor who teaches at the LSPR Communication and Business Institute in Jakarta
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times