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)