Ketaping airport project 'to resume'

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)