House summons ex-state secretaries

JAKARTA: A team of legislators from House of Representatives Commission I overseeing the State Secretariat will question former state/minister secretaries and businesspeople over the construction of hotels and shopping malls in the Bung Karno sports complex.

Team chairman Effendy Choirie disclosed that the former ministers included Sudharmono, Moerdiono, and Ali Rachman while the businesspeople were Ponco Sutowo, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Bambang Trihatmodjo and Siti Hediati Prabowo. The latter two are son and daughter of former president Soeharto.

They will be questioned over the misuse of land in the compound, Effendy of the National Awakening Party said.

The complex was supposed to accommodate sports activities, but part of the compound has been were used for hotels, shopping malls and entertainment centers.

"We will question how and why they obtained a permit to erect buildings in that area," said Effendy.

The Bung Karno sports complex originally covered an area of 279.1 hectares. But only 146.57 hectares (53.52 percent) is being utilized for sports facilities, while 66.74 hectares are being used for business purposes and the rest for state buildings. -- JP