Sutiyoso catches fire for construction permit

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

City councillors criticized Governor Sutiyoso on Monday for relocating an exhibition building from the eastern parking lot of Bung Karno sports stadium in Senayan to the National Monument (Monas) Park, in Central Jakarta.

Councillor Ali Imran Husein of the United Development Party disagreed with Sutiyoso's decision to give the permit to private company PT Samudra Nira Peraga to construct the building in Monas park.

"As far as I know, there is no space for commercial activities in the park, except the area which is used for cafes," Ali, a member of the council's commission D for development affairs, told reporters.

Granting a permit to construct a building in the park would create new problems, he said.

He said the Monas park had been designed in accordance with the city spatial plan as a green and open area, with no construction allowed throughout most of the park.

Both the Monas and Senayan facility had been designed as green areas. Monas park should be closed to any construction, as it was near the presidential palace, Ali said.

PT Samudra had earlier secured a permit to construct an exhibition building in the Senayan area, but the administration cancelled it following public criticism of the possible construction of exhibition buildings in the sports complex.

Ali said that the company, which planned to hold an exhibition on regional autonomy, should hold the event at the Kemayoran fairground in Central Jakarta.

"I don't believe that there is no longer space in Kemayoran fairground," he said.

Another councillor, Tjuk K. Sudono, supported Ali's statement, saying that, by asking the company to use the fairground, the administration would boost activity in the exhibition center.

"Kemayoran fairground is well known as an exhibition center. The administration should suggest the company use the facility," Tjuk of the National Mandate Party said.

He said the administration should avoid any damage to the Monas park, as the cost of repairs would later burden the city budget.

Separately, Governor Sutiyoso admitted on Monday that he had given a permit to the company to construct the exhibition building in Monas park.

"There is no (other) place except the park. Kemayoran fairground would be used for another activity at that time while Banteng square is too small," Sutiyoso said.

However, he said the building that would be constructed by the company should be a temporary one, and should be demolished within two days after the one-week exhibition had ended on Oct. 28.

He also said the company should repair the park if the exhibition caused any damage.

The 2001 city budget allocated Rp 1.98 billion (US$210,000) for the maintenance of the park. Last year's maintenance cost Rp 591 million.

The company's executives could not be reached for comment on Monday.

The administration had earlier demolished two illegal exhibition buildings owned by two different companies in the Senayan area.