Islamic center project starts with mosque

Islamic center project starts with mosque

JAKARTA (JP): A new Islamic center is being constructed in the
West Java district of Citeureup, 30 kilometers south of Jakarta.

The center, built on 17 hectares of land, will comprise a
mosque, a museum, a library, a hospital and a recreational
center.

Ketut Abdurrachman Masagung, son of the late businessman and
book publisher Masagung, will build the center through his
Masagung Foundation. He said at the laying of the cornerstone
ceremony yesterday that the first phase of construction would
involve the mosque, library and hospital on 2.5 hectares of land.

Ketut said the library would boast the most complete
collection of Islamic books in the country.

The second phase will be the construction of a recreational
center, comprising a large swimming pool and a park on the
remaining 14.5 hectares of land, he said.

"We do not intend to build a housing complex within the
center, as 60 percent of the area is wet land that is unsuitable
for housing," said Ketut.

He said the center would be surrounded by housing complexes.

Vice director of the Islamic center's contractor, Johan
Pahlawan, said the first phase of the project would cost Rp 18
billion (US$7.34 million) while the second phase would cost Rp 45
billion.

"The whole project will be completed in three years," he said.

The Masagung Foundation has constructed two other mosques in
Jakarta in recent years. (03)