Governor Sutiyoso agrees to mediate for Tommy in row

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso agreed yesterday to help Hutomo Mandala Putra sell two disputed buildings to state enterprises.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the youngest son of former president Soeharto, the governor said he would contact State Minister for the Empowerment of State Enterprises Tanri Abeng to discuss the matter.

Sutiyoso, appointed Jakarta governor by Soeharto last October, did not indicate why he was willing to broker a deal for Hutomo, popularly known as Tommy.

"The owner bought the land from the government. That's why we wish to help them look for buyers" was all he would say.

Sutiyoso even refused to estimate the buildings' sale value.

"I have no idea," he said.

Tommy refused to comment on the development.

"Just ask the governor," he told reporters after the meeting at City Hall.

The city earlier declared Tommy's two disputed properties -- the 18-story Humpuss building and the seven-story Timor building on Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur in Central Jakarta -- as having violated land-use regulations.

The announcement of the violation was made after Tommy's father stepped down from the presidency last month.

Presidential Decree No. 25/1995 on the development of the Medan Merdeka area forbids private companies from building offices in the area, including along Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur.

The area is designed to be a buffer zone from development for Medan Merdeka Park, where the National Monument (Monas) stands.

The decree also stipulates that buildings in the area should not be higher than the 132-meter-tall monument in the middle of the park.

Numerous government buildings, including presidential and ministerial offices as well as the American Embassy, are located in the stipulated area.

Despite the decree, Tommy built the two office buildings while his father was still in power. Nobody was willing to denounce the violation at the time.

Sutiyoso said Tommy agreed yesterday to empty the buildings.

But the governor refused to reveal whether or not they had set a deadline for Tommy's businesses to move out.

"The main thing is that both buildings will be used for government purposes as stipulated in existing land-use regulations."

The Humpuss building is named after Tommy's widely diversified business group, while the other building bears the name of his controversial car project.

City councilor Saud Rahman of the United Development Party faction criticized the governor's willingness to involve himself in any future transaction over the properties.

"The governor should not get involved because it can only humiliate the administration," said Saud, who is secretary of the council's Commission D for development affairs.

He said the governor should let Tommy look for buyers himself. (ind)