THE people of Jakarta are border crossers. Geographical or otherwise. Because of this dissolving of boundaries, it is rather difficult to insist on who is considered ‘native’ or ‘non-native’ Jakartans. I was born in Bandung but grew up on the outskirts of Jakarta.

In the past, whenever I was on the radio, listeners would be confused by my accent, which was sometimes Sundanese and sometimes thick Betawi. I was broadca