Builders of highest tower have yet to process permits
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)