Councilors want careful study of police HQ deal

Councilors want careful study of police HQ deal

JAKARTA (JP): Councilors welcome the plan on the construction
of the new City Police headquarters by a private developer on a
barter basis, but warn that state interest must come first in
such a deal.

Nawadji and Lukman F. Mokoginta of Commission D for
development, said in separate interviews yesterday that they
wanted the Ministry of Finance to study the barter deal
thoroughly and carefully.

"The new building must have high economic value so as to prove
that the barter deal is fair," said Nawadji, who chairs the Armed
Forces (ABRI) faction.

The developer, PT Mandalapratama Permai, has assured that the
barter deal with the police would be mutually beneficial.

Moniek S.W. Sudjatmoko, the company's director, told The
Jakarta Post in an interview Wednesday that the company's
proposal was going through the necessary procedures.

Moniek confirmed earlier statements by her boss Hutomo Mandala
Putra that the proposal was at the Ministry of Defense and
Security and would be forwarded to the Ministry of Finance.
Tommy, as Hutomo is popularly known, would then seek the approval
of the President as barter deals or sale of state properties
worth more than Rp 10 billion must have the President's approval.

The estimated value of the property is Rp 538 billion
including interest on loans for the period of the three-year
deal.

Objection

Nawadji expressed objection that the city administration's
role in the barter deal plan had been too trivial.

"It is like fait accompli to us as we are asked to approve
something which has been approved at the upper level," Nawadji
said, commenting on the fact that the proposal is at the Ministry
of Defense and Security.

The developer will a build commercial center on the plot where
the City Police headquarters is now standing. The new
headquarters will also be built on the plot.

According to the miniature model, the commercial center will
face Jl. Jend. Sudirman, while the new police office will face
Jl. Gatot Subroto.

Nawadji said yesterday that according to the provincial
decree, the location on Jl. Jend. Sudirman is for government
offices. "The spatial plans will have to be changed."

Lukman F. Mokoginta of the Indonesian Democratic Party said it
was the city administration which had the right to change the
spatial planning. "This means that the city administration has a
good bargaining position," he said. (sur/11)