Ketaping airport project 'to resume'

PADANG, West Sumatra: Governor Zainal Bakar expressed his optimism on Friday that the halted Ketaping International Airport project would resume despite the objection by the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW).

Zainal said that preparations to resume the Rp 2 trillion project had been conducted. "Land acquisition which was halted for some reason, will be carried out by a special team set up by the local administration."

The project started in the early 1990s and was halted four years later due to financial problems. The land acquisition process also posed a serious hurdle at that time.

According to ICW, the airport project, which is to be funded by the World Bank, is tainted by corruption, collusion and nepotistic (KKN) practices.

The head of West Sumatra's office of the Ministry of Communication said he had yet to be officially informed about the cancellation of the project.

"If the project is canceled, official notification must be sent to us," Martunus Said said. "I am upbeat that the project will resume in December this year." (28/sur)