C. Java governor told to stop $4.1m project
C. Java governor told to stop $4.1m project
SEMARANG (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. has
ordered Central Java Governor Soewardi to shelve his highly
controversial Rp 10 billion (US$4.1 million) building plan.
Soewardi said yesterday the minister wanted him to stop the
project and the ministry would send in a special team to
determine if it was viable.
"I have received the minister's letter (concerning the
order)," the governor said.
The reassessment team is expected to start work after the May
29 general election, he added.
At the center of the controversy is Soewardi's insistence to
build a new headquarters for the local Association of Retired
Civil Servants.
The plan has met strong opposition from provincial legislative
council members, environmentalists and politicians. The
controversy has been manipulated by the Indonesian Democratic
Party (PDI) and the United Development Party (PPP) to win public
support ahead of the election.
The plan hangs in the balance as the PDI and PPP councilors
will not compromise.
Critics have questioned the cost of the proposed building
which they said is a waste of tax payers' money because the
association's office in northern Semarang is not fully occupied.
They suspect the planned building on a prime 10,000-square-
meter plot near the governor's office will be sold to private
investors.
Environmentalists are also up in arms, alleging that the
project would mean the destruction of a park which reduces
chocking air pollution in the city of 1.6 billion people.
Earlier, Soewardi had come under attack for spending Rp 8
billion to build his gubernatorial office.
He said the minister "did not reject" the proposed project but
only wanted to wait for the investigation team to deliver its
recommendation.
"The team will assess aspects concerning the land, cost and
feasibility. Every aspect of the project will be looked into," he
said.
He added he would not lobby the minister to have the plan
endorsed but hoped the project would go ahead. "We sincerely hope
that the investigation team will come up with positive
recommendations."
Leader of the PPP councilors, Thoyfoer, told The Jakarta Post
he was happy with the minister's policy.
"What a wise decision," he exclaimed. (har/pan)