Banten councillors protest haj dormitory plan<\/p>\n
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang<\/p>\n
Banten provincial councillors objected to a decision by Tangerang
\nregency administration to build the provincial haj dormitory on
\nan 11-hectare site provided by PT Lippo Karawaci in Curug
\ndistrict, some 15 kilometers southwest of Soekarno-Hatta
\nInternational Airport.<\/p>\n
\"Tangerang regent Ismet must stick with his initial proposal
\nto build the haj dormitory in Sepatan district, as Governor Djoko
\nMunandar issued a decree ensuring the construction of the
\ndormitory in the district,\" said Banten Council representative
\nMarzuki Raily from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI Perjuangan).<\/p>\n
During a visit by councillors to Tangerang on Monday, Marzuki
\nsaid that Sepatan was chosen because of its close location to the
\nairport and reduced traffic congestion.<\/p>\n
\"I don't know if there is a game going on between Ismet and
\ndeveloper PT Lippo Karawaci. As far as I know, the developers
\nmust have a business interest at stake that enables them to be
\nwilling to provide land for the dormitory construction,\" Marzuki
\nalleged.<\/p>\n
He also pointed out that the regent's decision was against the
\ngubernatorial decree.<\/p>\n
\"Ismet must have realized that Tangerang was chosen after the
\nprovincial administration had discussed it with the public and
\nreligious figures in Banten,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ismet defended his policy, saying that the site at Curug was
\nlarger than at Sepatan.<\/p>\n
\"The site at Sepatan is only five hectares and is productive
\nfor farming. If we build the dormitory there, we must clear six
\nmore hectares of productive farming land,\" he argued.<\/p>\n
Sepatan ulemas had protested to Ismet before, saying that
\ntheir area was only 10 minutes' driving time from the airport
\ncompared with the other districts of Curug and Pasar Kemis, which
\nare in an industrial zone.<\/p>\n
Should the construction of the new dormitory be completed, haj
\npilgrims from Banten province will no longer need to stay at the
\nPondok Gede haj dormitory in East Jakarta prior to their
\ndeparture to Mecca.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/banten-councillors-protest-haj-dormitory-plan-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}