Banten councillors protest haj dormitory plan

Banten councillors protest haj dormitory plan

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Banten provincial councillors objected to a decision by Tangerang
regency administration to build the provincial haj dormitory on
an 11-hectare site provided by PT Lippo Karawaci in Curug
district, some 15 kilometers southwest of Soekarno-Hatta
International Airport.

"Tangerang regent Ismet must stick with his initial proposal
to build the haj dormitory in Sepatan district, as Governor Djoko
Munandar issued a decree ensuring the construction of the
dormitory in the district," said Banten Council representative
Marzuki Raily from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI Perjuangan).

During a visit by councillors to Tangerang on Monday, Marzuki
said that Sepatan was chosen because of its close location to the
airport and reduced traffic congestion.

"I don't know if there is a game going on between Ismet and
developer PT Lippo Karawaci. As far as I know, the developers
must have a business interest at stake that enables them to be
willing to provide land for the dormitory construction," Marzuki
alleged.

He also pointed out that the regent's decision was against the
gubernatorial decree.

"Ismet must have realized that Tangerang was chosen after the
provincial administration had discussed it with the public and
religious figures in Banten," he said.

Ismet defended his policy, saying that the site at Curug was
larger than at Sepatan.

"The site at Sepatan is only five hectares and is productive
for farming. If we build the dormitory there, we must clear six
more hectares of productive farming land," he argued.

Sepatan ulemas had protested to Ismet before, saying that
their area was only 10 minutes' driving time from the airport
compared with the other districts of Curug and Pasar Kemis, which
are in an industrial zone.

Should the construction of the new dormitory be completed, haj
pilgrims from Banten province will no longer need to stay at the
Pondok Gede haj dormitory in East Jakarta prior to their
departure to Mecca.