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)