Builders of highest tower have yet to process permits

JAKARTA (JP): City administration has not yet received any proposal for the construction of the world's third-highest tower, to be built in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

Deputy Governor for Economic Affairs Tb. M. Rais said yesterday that the business tycoons who intend to build the US$400 million tower, have not yet filed the proposal for the processing of the necessary permits, ranging from the building permit to its block plan.

"Since no proposal has been received, city administration will not make any comment about the plan," Rais told reporters when asked about the plan.

Last week, a number of House of Representative members strongly opposed the plan, arguing that the funds for the project would be more beneficial to financing the alleviation of poverty.

The 500-meter tower plan, to be sponsored by three business tycoons: Sudwikatmono, Prayogo Pangestu and Henry Pribadi, was also criticized by Mubyarto, assistant to Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita, who is in charge of poverty alleviation.

Mubyarto said that the funds should be used for government- sponsored programs, for the improvement of Indonesia's least developed villages.

Bandjar Marpaung, head of City Council's Commission D, in charge of development affairs, also opposed the plan, saying that about 50 percent of Jakarta's total area is slum areas. He urged city administration to "reconsider" the proposal for the processing of its permit.

Sudwikatmono has defended the plan by saying that the criticism was caused by a misunderstanding. The project will be built by private companies as a monument to the success of the New Order government.

The building, to be called Menara Jakarta (Jakarta Tower), will be supported by three large columns, symbolizing three pillars of Indonesia's development, namely equitable distribution of the fruits of development for the creation of social justice; a high rate of economic growth; and dynamic and healthy national stability.

On top of the tower there will be a five-story building symbolizing Pancasila's five principles.

The uppermost part of the tower will be used by all TV broadcasting stations to air their programs. The tower, built on a four-hectare plot of land, will be the third highest in the world, after the tallest (555 meters) in Toronto and the second tallest (530 meters) in Moscow. (yns)