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)