Largest Islamic housing to be built in Tangerang

JAKARTA (JP): PT Mustika Hadiasari opened over the weekend what it claims to be the largest housing estate in Indonesia, with Islamic characteristics in interior designs, surroundings and public facilities.

State Minister of Public Housing Akbar Tandjung dedicated the 104-hectare housing area, Vila Ilhami, which is located near Tangerang, West Java.

Mustika's director, Syahnan Lubis, said at the opening ceremony that each house in the area will have an indoor musholla (prayer room) and will face west, the direction of Mecca.

The Islamic concept will also be applied to all public facilities, such as shopping and sports centers and educational institutions, Lubis added.

The whole project will require a total investment of US$121 million, of which $59 million has been secured from Bank Central Asia, he said.

Lubis said Vila Ilhami, formerly known as Islamic Village, will offer six types of houses, ranging from 60 square meters to 200 meter squares in size at prices from Rp 85 million ($36,000) to Rp 375 million ($160,000) per house.

The area will have 1,400 houses and 800 apartments as well as a three-star hotel, hospital and other standard public facilities.

"A three-story mosque will be built for each 200 houses to 300 houses, to make it easier for the residents to perform their prayers," Lubis said.

All residences and their bedrooms will be built facing west, the direction of Mecca, Lubis said.

However, he said, the bathrooms will be built to face north or south.

According to Lubis, the first-stage development will build 471 houses, of which 64 have been bought.

The second stage will build 374 houses in July, 1997, while the commercial properties, including the five apartment buildings, will be built in 1998, he added.

Lubis refused to elaborate on his company's sales target but he said that the profit would be used to finance the development of an Islamic university in the area.

Akbar warned at the opening ceremony that developers should not be speculative in planning and marketing their properties.

"Developers, especially beginners, should not be too aggressive in expanding their business unless they have developed a strong market segment," he cautioned.

Akbar also asked banks and other creditors to be more selective in granting loans, to prevent a high incidence of bad loans. (04)