Sutiyoso catches fire for construction permit

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.