'New subway investors no problem'

JAKARTA (JP): Aburizal Bakrie, the chairman of the Indonesian Japanese European Group (IJEG) consortium, said the entry of new investors in the proposed Rp 5 trillion (US$2.1 billion) subway project to connect Blok M in South Jakarta and Kota in West Jakarta would not affect the initial planning.

"It's okay and no problem," he said Thursday night.

The Kontan weekly reported earlier that Bambang Trihatmodjo, President Soeharto's second son and Djoko Ramiadji, the son of Indonesia's major cosmetics producer Moeryati Soedibyo, would officially enter the project.

Aburizal, who also chairs the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said there would be no change even if new investors like Bambang and Djoko joined the project.

He said new investors would not affect the initial planning because the present consortium had submitted the project's design to the Jakarta administration.

Aburizal Bakrie, through his company PT Bakrie Investindo, chairs the IJEG consortium which includes PT Pembangunan Jaya, Lippo Group, PT Bukaka Corporindo and PT Steady Safe.

Observers speculated Bambang, who is expected to become consortium's majority shareholder, could replace Aburizal as the consortium's chairman.

"The position of the leader in the consortium has nothing to do with the amount of his shares," Aburizal said. "The leader's task is to coordinate the members of the consortium".

He said members would own equally the consortium's shares. (09)