After the Public Spotlight on Tiko and Eny

Eny has been hospitalized, while Tiko is now busy sharing his stories with various media. Their happiness should not end like this, after the excitement that was wrapped in compassion.

KOMPAS/STEFANUS ATO

Rumah Eny dan Tiko di Cakung, Jakarta Timur, dipadati warga pada, Jumat (6/1/2023) sore.

The road in front of the house of Eny and his son Pulung Mustika “Tiko” Abima (23) in Cakung, Jatinegara, East Jakarta, was crowded all day on Friday (6/1/2023) until the evening. People continued to arrive there, though it was unclear what they were watching for in the two-story house, which had kept a dark memory for a dozen years.

The crowd’s focus broke when Tiko suddenly appeared in the middle of it on Friday at 2:15 p.m. He looked very fashionable, with a new haircut. Tiko, who was wearing a white-and-black polkadot T-shirt that afternoon, didn't talk much. He just smiled and walked quickly to a waiting car. "[I’m] Happy, anyway. I don't know how it will be in the future," said Tiko.

Also read: Life in the Luxury Home of Tiko and Eny: the Irony behind Sparkling Jakarta

He said his mother, who was being treated at Duren Sawit Regional Special Hospital (RSKD), East Jakarta, was in good condition. He had tried to visit his mother, but the doctor had not permitted it.

Eny and Tiko were originally discovered in a heartbreaking condition at their neglected luxury home in Cakung by content creators Bang Brew TV and Pratiwi Noviyanthi.

Their house had not had any power for 12 years. The clean water pipe was broken. The yard was filled with weeds and shrubs, like a haunted palace. The life of comfort led by the family, which had worked at the Finance Ministry, had changed drastically since Eny separated from her husband in 2010. The separation not only shattered their finances, but also left a deep inner wound.

Withdrawing from society

Eny was no longer able to stand and be independent. She withdrew from social life. The family even refused help from their neighbors.

Noves Haristedja, the head of neighborhood unit (RT) 006, community unit (RW) 002 ofJatinegara subdistrict, Cakung district, East Jakarta, said that when their home lost water and electricity, Eny often asked her nearest neighbor for water to cook and drink.

"Sometimes she bought [food], sometimes she cooked. The mother cooked using firewood," said Noves.

When she was in the house, she was protective.

A few weeks before their discovery in the neglected luxury home, Eny was still often seen outside the house. When passing her neighbors, she still smiled and greeted them.

Nothing had changed in the woman who is thought to be over 60. However, it was a different situation when Eny was at home.

"When she was in the house, she was protective. It could be that she was afraid, for example, that someone might take or do something. Therefore, every time someone offered help, she refused," said Noves.

STEFANUS ATO

The house of Mrs. Eny and her son Tiko in Cakung, East Jakarta.

According to Noves, Eny has now been transferred to a special ward at RSKD Duren Sawit. Even Tiko is not allowed to visit her there. From the information the RT had received, those closest to her are temporarily banned from seeing Eny to help alleviate past trauma and speed up her recovery.

"Based on the information, the period of treatment is estimated to be 32 days. There has been a change. She is at least interacting well. Let us pray," said Noves.

As for Tiko, assistance is said to still be flowing from a community of content creators. Tiko will continue to be facilitated through a school equivalence program so he can obtain his junior and senior high school equivalency certificates.

Familial support

Gadjah Mada University sociologist Abe Widyanta said in response to the case that it was important to trace Eny and Tiko’s extended family. If they still had relatives, Eny and Tiko must be put in touch with their extended family so their family can help them. Familial support was very important for Tiko’s future survival.

"His mother is 60 years old, she is at retirement age. But on the other hand, old people are often neglected," said Abe. Eny and Tiko’s case was a complex case. Moreover, the emergence of a case like this in a metropolitan city like Jakarta was a problem that could not be overlooked.

"This is an urban problem that will indeed be often found in old age. It is necessary to identify how well those who have the ability work and others who are unemployed still have an income. There must be complete data on this, so that the government can intervene," said Abe.

Post-viral attention

Public attention, which is now focused on Tiko, is deemed inauthentic and short term. The help that came from various parties sometimes came with the aim to boost ratings.

"People flocked to collect funds. However, it is all for the sake of compassion. Charity like that usually just comes and goes [hit and run]," said Abe.

Although a fantastic amount of funds had been collected, it was deemed that the funds should not be managed by those who did not have the ability to do so. Intervention was needed to manage the use of these funds.

"It will certainly be easy [for the funds] to disappear, easily tempted by consumptive things. [The funds will be] Just enough without any long-term planning," Abe added.

Not just a commodification of compassion. That's dangerous. It can dive and maybe create more problems.

The fame that emerged from compassion and led to invitations to appear on a number of media channels was actually not what Tiko and Eny needed. The government, institutions, and other parties involved in resolving the family’s case needed to conduct proper analysis and assessment to determine what the family needed for the future.

"Not just a commodification of compassion. That's dangerous. It can dive and maybe create more problems," said Abe.

Hopefully our concern for our neighbors and our environment can prevent the emergence of other Enys and Tikos.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.