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)