Soeharto's new house 'built without permits'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A controversial house belonging to former
\npresident Soeharto in Purna Bhakti Museum complex in Taman Mini
\nIndonesia Indah, East Jakarta, was reportedly built without any
\npermits, a City Hall official said yesterday.<\/p>\n
The official, who asked not to be named, said the city
\nplanning agency had never received any permit applications for
\nthe construction of the house.<\/p>\n
"Soeharto or his family have never gone through the required
\nsteps, including paying the obliged levy to get a building permit
\nfrom the City Building Control and Supervision Agency," he said.<\/p>\n
News about Soeharto's 3,000-square-meter house on a one-
\nhectare site in Taman Mini hit the headlines early this week
\nfollowing the government's decision to give Soeharto a housing
\nallowance amounting to Rp 26.5 billion (US$1.92 million).<\/p>\n
The allowance would be in lieu of a house which the former
\npresident is entitled to for services rendered to the country.
\nThe Taman Mini house was built in 1993.<\/p>\n
The decision to give an allowance is in accordance with Law
\nNo. 7\/1978, which stipulates that former presidents and vice
\npresidents are entitled to certain gratuities, including a
\npension, appropriate housing, a car and chauffeur, security
\nguards and a waiver on paying telephone, water and electric
\nbills.<\/p>\n
The 120-hectare Taman Mini is a recreational site and home to
\na number of various museums. It was established in 1972 and
\ninaugurated by Soeharto in 1975.<\/p>\n
The City Hall official said that Taman Mini land was earmarked
\nfor public buildings with big green areas, but houses could be
\nbuilt in its surrounding areas.<\/p>\n
According to him, someone intending to process building
\npermits should report to the city planning agency to have their
\nbuilding site measured.<\/p>\n
The agency also checks the land use appropriation before
\nasking the applicant to pay a levy, he said.<\/p>\n
However, the official reiterated, he had no information on
\nwhether Soeharto managed to obtain a building permit without
\ngoing through the standard procedures.<\/p>\n
City councilor Lukman Mokoginta, a member of Commission D for
\ndevelopment affairs, said Governor Sutiyoso should take punitive
\naction against owners of any illegal buildings.<\/p>\n
"The governor should maintain the regulation which applies to
\neverybody," he said.<\/p>\n
However, he said the governor should first thoroughly check
\nthe building and if he was sure that it was illegally
\nconstructed, "the governor could impose a penalty or even
\ndemolish the structure". (ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soehartos-new-house-built-without-permits-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}