Ministers officiate opening of new mall

Ministers officiate opening of new mall

JAKARTA (JP): The undulating sound of kettledrums being struck
by two ministers, two city officers and three businessmen, marked
the grand opening of Mal Puri Indah in Puri Kembangan, West
Jakarta, Saturday.

Located in a six-hectare area on Jl. Puri Agung and operating
since January, the shopping mall, which has 121,000 square meters
of space, is currently home to 142 outlets, including fashion
stores, bookstores, toy shops, supermarkets and a game center.

A series of five gigantic mosaic paintings of sailboats by
local artist Eddy Noor were displayed in the front windows of the
mall, which gave a special mood to the place and the opening
ceremony.

The special drummers included Minister of Education and
Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, State Minister of Public Housing
Akbar Tanjung, Governor Sutiyoso and tycoon Sudwikatmono.

Sudwikatmono is the director of the Pondok Indah Group, which
owns the mall.

The other drummers were West Jakarta Mayor Andi Subur Abdullah
and representatives of PT Antilope Madju Puri Indah (AMPI) -- a
subsidiary of Pondok Indah Group which developed the mall -- Yan
Darmadi and Budi Brasali.

Guests included property developer Ciputra and several other
noted businesspeople.

In his speech, Sutiyoso said: "I hope the mall, built within
the large housing area in Puri Kembangan -- will bring a lot of
comfort and service to the people. I urge the developer to build
more social and public facilities, because what we have here is
not completed yet."

"There are still many things to develop, such as
transportation and infrastructure facilities. I also want the
mall to be greener. I hope developers can understand the city's
ambition to regreen the capital.

"So please, start planting more trees in your project," he
advised.

In reply, Sudwikatmono explained that his firm had planted
some 4,300 trees around the Puri Kembangan area, with 610 trees
planted inside the shopping mall area alone .

"And inside this mall, there are various sites and facilities
for visitors. This five-story, Victorian-designed building offers
an antique clock tower and a 500-square-meter dome," he said.

Besides the grand opening ceremony for the mall, the ceremony
was also meant for the launching of Notre Dame school buildings
and a Casper and Friends outlet.

While the mall was inaugurated by minister Akbar Tanjung, the
school was by minister Wardiman and Casper's by Governor
Sutiyoso.

The school buildings were built inside the Puri Indah Housing
complex near the mall, while Casper and Friends was on the third
floor of the mall.

During the ceremony, the Notre Dame primary students choir
sang several songs, such as the welcoming songs of Selamat Datang
and Jali-Jali.

Attractive dancers performing the Halo Jakarta song also
enlivened the weekend ceremony.

The first Casper and Friends outlet provides a jet coaster,
flying capsule, games and Casper gift shops.

After the opening, parents took their children to the Casper
store, and shook hands and took pictures of the little ghost
characters.

Sudwikatmono expressed eagerness to ride the jet coaster, but
his wife, Sri Sularti, held his hand tight and said: "No...
honey, you can't do that. Doctor's orders, remember?"

Her husband looked a little bit disappointed, but eventually
smiled and walked to the next outlet. (07)