Governor struggles for approval of Rp 10b project<\/p>\n
By Haryoso<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): Still nursing wounds from a dispute over the
\nconstruction of his Rp 8 billion (US$3.3 million) mansion last
\nyear, Central Java Governor Maj. Gen. (ret) Soewardi is battling
\nto secure Rp 10 billion for another building.<\/p>\n
He wants the provincial legislative council to provide Rp 10
\nbillion of tax payers' money to build an office for the local
\nRetired Civil Servants Association.<\/p>\n
Soewardi said the project was urgent and worthwhile because
\nthe public had to honor retired civil servants.<\/p>\n
But his critics question the cost of the new building which
\nthey say is a waste of money because the association's office in
\nnorthern Semarang is not fully occupied.<\/p>\n
They suspect the proposed building on a prime 10,000-square-
\nmeter plot near the governor's office will be sold to private
\ninvestors.<\/p>\n
Environmentalists are also up in arms, alleging that the
\nproject will mean the destruction of a park which reduces
\nchocking air pollution in the city of 1.6 billion people.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and United Development Party
\n(PPP) councilors have refused to approve the project because of
\nits site and frequent changes to the proposed building's design
\nand purpose.<\/p>\n
Predictably, legislators from the dominant political grouping
\nGolkar and the Armed Forces are eager to endorse it.<\/p>\n
To break the deadlock, Golkar and Armed Forces councilors have
\nthreatened to put the project to the vote, a rare move in
\nIndonesian politics, since they have the numbers to ensure an
\napproval.<\/p>\n
Undeterred, the PDI and PPP councilors have said they will
\nvote against the project. Many are still upset by the
\nconstruction of the governor's mansion last year.<\/p>\n
\"We will never endorse the project because we don't see the
\nuse,\" the leader of the PPP councilors, Thoyfoer, said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Councilors who are members of the Moslem-oriented PPP believe
\nthe money would be put to better use by building schools and
\nother facilities to alleviate poverty.<\/p>\n
\"Millions of people in Central Java are still illiterate,\"
\nThoyfoer said. \"Wouldn't it be better to use the money to develop
\nhuman resources?\"<\/p>\n
Councilors of the PDI, a nationalist and Christian alliance,
\nsay the project is odd.<\/p>\n
\"It's strange that retirees will run shops, cooperatives and
\nall that business. They are supposed to relax and enjoy the rest
\nof their lives,\" PDI councilor Rahati Soebeno said.<\/p>\n
PDI councilors suspect the administration is colluding with a
\nthird party and the association to steal funds from the council.<\/p>\n
Some local academics are also against the project.<\/p>\n
City planner Koestomo from Soegiopranoto Catholic University
\nsaid the project would make Semarang even more polluted and
\nsweaty.<\/p>\n
The park at the site has been dubbed the \"lungs of the city\".
\nFor decades, locals have used it as a place to relax.<\/p>\n
\"People will lose a city forest that absorbs pollution,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
City planner Eko Budiarjo from Diponegoro University had
\nsimilar concerns.<\/p>\n
But governor Soewardi remains optimistic that PPP and PDI
\ncouncilors will eventually agree to his project.<\/p>\n
\"The building is an urgent priority. It will constitute our
\nhonor toward retired civil servants,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the administration wanted to see retired civil
\nservants looked after as well as retired members of the Armed
\nForces.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/governor-struggles-for-approval-of-rp-10b-project-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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