Sutiyoso under fire over exhibition building permit
\nAhmad Junaidi
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
City councillors criticized Governor Sutiyoso on Monday for
\nrelocating an exhibition building from the eastern parking lot of
\nBung Karno sports stadium in Senayan to the National Monument
\n(Monas) Park, in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Councillor Ali Imran Husein of the United Development Party
\ndisagreed with Sutiyoso's decision to give the permit to private
\ncompany PT Samudra Nira Peraga to construct the building in Monas
\npark.<\/p>\n
\"As far as I know, there is no space for commercial activities
\nin the park, except the area which is used for cafes,\" Ali, a
\nmember of the council's commission D for development affairs,
\ntold reporters.<\/p>\n
Granting a permit to construct a building in the park would
\ncreate new problems, he said.<\/p>\n
He said the Monas park had been designed in accordance with
\nthe city spatial plan as a green and open area, with no
\nconstruction allowed throughout most of the park.<\/p>\n
Both the Monas and Senayan facility had been designed as green
\nareas. Monas park should be closed to any construction, as it was
\nnear the presidential palace, Ali said.<\/p>\n
PT Samudra had earlier secured a permit to construct an
\nexhibition building in the Senayan area, but the administration
\ncancelled it following public criticism of the possible
\nconstruction of exhibition buildings in the sports complex.<\/p>\n
Ali said that the company, which planned to hold an exhibition
\non regional autonomy, should hold the event at the Kemayoran
\nfairground in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"I don't believe that there is no longer space in Kemayoran
\nfairground,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Another councillor, Tjuk K. Sudono, supported Ali's statement,
\nsaying that, by asking the company to use the fairground, the
\nadministration would boost activity in the exhibition center.<\/p>\n
\"Kemayoran fairground is well known as an exhibition center.
\nThe administration should suggest the company use the facility,\"
\nTjuk of the National Mandate Party said.<\/p>\n
He said the administration should avoid any damage to the
\nMonas park, as the cost of repairs would later burden the city
\nbudget.<\/p>\n
Separately, Governor Sutiyoso admitted on Monday that he had
\ngiven a permit to the company to construct the exhibition
\nbuilding in Monas park.<\/p>\n
\"There is no (other) place except the park. Kemayoran
\nfairground would be used for another activity at that time while
\nBanteng square is too small,\" Sutiyoso said.<\/p>\n
However, he said the building that would be constructed by the
\ncompany should be a temporary one, and should be demolished
\nwithin two days after the one-week exhibition had ended on Oct.
\n28.<\/p>\n
He also said the company should repair the park if the
\nexhibition caused any damage.<\/p>\n
The 2001 city budget allocated Rp 1.98 billion (US$210,000)
\nfor the maintenance of the park. Last year's maintenance cost Rp
\n591 million.<\/p>\n
The company's executives could not be reached for comment on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
The administration had earlier demolished two illegal
\nexhibition buildings owned by two different companies in the
\nSenayan area.<\/p>",
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