National monument under restoration

JAKARTA (JP): Restoration of the famed national monument, Monas, in the heart of the city, is 60 percent completed, project officials say.

To complete the project, workers are racing against time to beat the Aug. 17 deadline, the day when Indonesia commemorates its 50th independence anniversary.

Project officials reported the progress to Governor Surjadi Soedirdja this week.

The governor said that despite the limited time, the project should put quality above all else, so that the monument and the park retain their original splendor.

The complex is situated near many central government offices, such as the President's Bina Graha, ministries, the state-run central radio RRI and the central railway station. (32)