New council building 'not a priority'

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration, in response to mounting criticism over its plan to buy a new building for the City Council, stated on Monday that it would take some time before the plan could be materialized.

City Governor Sutiyoso said the government would not buy the Timor building on Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur in Central Jakarta, at least until next year.

"The new council building is not a priority. This current City Budget focuses on poverty alleviation programs," he told reporters at the City Hall.

Besides the lack of funds, Sutiyoso said, the city administration could not buy the Timor building in the near future as the building is still locked in a dispute between its owner, Humpuss group and the Ministry of Finance's Directorate General for Taxation. Humpuss belongs to former president Soeharto's son Hutomo Mandala Putra, who is at large despite being convicted for corruption.

Separately, City Council chairman Edy Waluyo lowered his tone on Monday by saying that the idea to move to the new building was just a proposal.

"If we could not have it this year, it's OK. It's just up for discussion," Edy said.

He underlined, however, that the old building was no longer appropriate for the council's activities.

He claimed that the building, which was designed for only 45 councillors, could no longer accommodate the city's 85 councillors.

"In the past, there were only three factions, now we have 11," he said.

Councillors have come under fire as they have demanded a new building, to be equipped with a sauna and fitness center, similar to the city administration building.

Several activists blasted the councillors on Sunday, saying that they were greedy people who just demand facilities and do not care about the public.

Edy's comment on Monday differed from his earlier statement on Friday, when he said that he hoped the Timor building could be bought this year. (jun)