Idea to hold New Year party at Monas hailed

Idea to hold New Year party at Monas hailed

JAKARTA (JP): Ciputra, the president of PT Pembangunan Jaya
Ancol, welcomed suggestions to hold future New Year's Eve parties
at Monas (National Monument) square in Central Jakarta.

The president of the giant developer said that the city
councilors' suggestion to move the annual party would be the best
way to entertain the public.

However, he added that Ancol Dreamland will continue producing
its own version of a public New Year's Eve show. "If the
administration holds a New Year's eve celebration at Monas, the
people will have another option."

Ancol Dreamland is owned and managed by PT Pembangunan Jaya
group.

"Ancol has no problem with the suggestion and I think it will
be great to have another party center. But it should be
remembered that huge sums of money will be necessary to hold such
an event," Ciputra told reporters.

He said that major shows at Ancol generally cost up to Rp 700
million (US$325,581), with some of the money coming from
sponsors.

The governor will make his traditional year-end address at
Ancol, which the city's military and police officers will also
attend. Taman Mini will also be the site of special events for
this year's celebration of New Year's Eve.

City Council members suggested on Tuesday that the local
administration hold future New Year's Eve parties at Monas and
not at its current site of Ancol Dreamland in North Jakarta.

Governor Surjadi Soedirdja is against the idea of moving a
mass party to Central Jakarta for fear of causing a disturbance.
(yns)