Sudwikatmono defends Kemayoran tower plan

Sudwikatmono defends Kemayoran tower plan

JAKARTA (JP): Business tycoon Sudwikatmono has defended his
plan to build a 500-meter tower, billed to be the third highest
in the world, in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

He said on Saturday that criticism from a number of members of
the House of Representatives was caused by a "misunderstanding."

The house members strongly opposed the plan on Friday,
demanding that the fund for the project, estimated to cost about
US$400 million, be used for other more beneficial activities,
such as the improvement of people's welfare.

Theo Syafei, a House member of the Armed Forces faction, said
that if the conglomerates want to do something prestigious for
the country, they should not build the tower but help to
alleviate poverty, especially in the eastern part of the country.

Head of the City Council's Commission D, in charge of
development affairs, Bandjar Marpaung joined the bandwagon on
Saturday, saying about 50 percent of Jakarta's total area is slum
areas.

"It is important for the private sectors to work hand in hand
with the government in settling these problems," Bandjar said.

Therefore, he added, it would be more appropriate if the fund
for the project was used for the program aimed at improving the
people's welfare, such as the establishment of low-cost
apartments.

"They (the House members) met me today and apologized,"
Sudwikatmono said on Saturday after attending the inauguration of
PT Chandra Asri Chemical Center in Cilegon, West Java.

Sudwikatmono in cooperation with two other tycoons -- Prayogo
Pangestu and Henry Pribadi -- is establishing a consortium called
PT Indocitra Graha Bawana to be in charge of building the tower.

He said that the House members criticized the project possibly
because they had obtained incorrect information about the plan.

The project will be built not by the government but by private
companies as a monument to the success of the New Order
government, he said.

Asked about the House's objection to the plan, Sudwikatmono
just answered: "Alleviating poverty has already been addressed,
in this case by the government."

He explained that in order to avoid further misunderstanding,
the House members will be invited to attend a presentation about
the project at Bina Graha presidential office. The presentation
is expected to be attended by President Soeharto.

"The date for the presentation is now being arranged by
Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono," Sudwikatmono said.

He also explained that the project, to be called Menara
Jakarta (Jakarta Tower), is designed by architects grouped in
East China Architecture Design Institute, which won the designing
works award in a competition among a limited number of world
tower designers.

"The Chinese architects were chosen because they managed to
combine all the various aspects that we want," he said.

He said that the building will be supported by three large
poles symbolizing the development trilogy. On top of the tower
there will be a five-story building symbolizing Pancasila's five
principles.

The uppermost part of the tower will be used by all TV
broadcasting stations to air their programs, he said, adding that
the tower, built on a four-hectare plot of land, will be the
third highest in the world after the tallest (555 meters high) in
Toronto and the second tallest (530 meters) in Moscow. (yns/hhr)