Senayan complex 'only for sports'

Senayan complex 'only for sports'

JAKARTA (JP): Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung
reiterated yesterday that the land in Senayan, Central Jakarta,
was only meant to accommodate sports activities.

Akbar however welcomed any parties interested in managing the
land for profit-seeking purposes.

"The government has reserved the plot for national sports to
develop. As years passed, we learned that the complex needs
professional management," Akbar said.

He was commenting on statements by Minister of Youth Affairs
and Sports Agung Laksono and National Sports Council chairman
Wismoyo Arismunandar who wanted to take over the management of
the sports complex from the Gelora Senayan foundation.

Akbar is the ex-officio chairman of the state foundation which
was set up by first president Sukarno. A 100,000-seat stadium, a
sports hall, an international-standard swimming pool and other
sports venues and facilities have been built in the complex.

In addition to the House of Representatives building and the
state television station TVRI, the foundation has given room for
non-sporting purposes with the development of hotels and business
centers.

The construction of the five-star Mulia Hotel prior to the
19th Southeast Asian Games last year marked the latest
controversy in the use of the land under the foundation's
supervision.

Akbar responded positively to the request by Agung and
Wismoyo, saying that he would study it more thoroughly.

"It doesn't matter who does the management jobs as long as
they are professional enough to do them," he said as quoted by
Antara. (yan)