Pavilion renovation cost questioned

JAKARTA: City Council's Commission B on development affairs announced on Friday that it suspected funds had been misused in the renovation of Jakarta pavilion at the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, which cost the administration Rp 15 billion (US$1.68 million).

"It was too expensive. We questioned the making of 47 dioramas costing Rp 40 million each and the purchase of two 42 inch "plasma" televisions priced at Rp 219 million each. Worse still, the pavilion's coordinator doesn't know about the televisions because they were ordered by the administration's tourism agency," Commission B secretary Dani Anwar was quoted by Antara as saying.

The councillors were on visit to the pavilion, which has been closed since 1999 for renovation. The Jakarta pavilion will reopen on Tuesday.

The renovation was completed by construction firm PT Stupa, which was apparently appointed by Governor Sutiyoso for the job under the recommendation of the administration's tourism agency.

Meanwhile, pavilion coordinator Taufik said that the ordered televisions had yet to arrive.--JP