Sutiyoso to set new decree on Pulo Gebang bus terminal
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration announced on Monday that it planned to issue a new gubernatorial decree which would allot 10-hectares of land owned by state-owned developer Perumnas, in Pulo Gebang, as a plot of land for a bus terminal to replace Pulo Gadung in East Jakarta.
"That's the best option. It can be easily reached from anywhere," Governor Sutiyoso told reporters after attending a plenary session of the City Council.
Due to the plan to issue the new decree, Sutiyoso said the administration would soon revoke gubernatorial decree 1272/1990 which had designated another plot of land owned by private firms PT Asmawi Corporation (Asco) and PT Nusuno Karya Mandiri.
He revealed that the administration cooperated with a private firm PT Rodial Eron in the 1990s in appropriating the land belonging to PT Asco and PT Nusuno for the development of the bus terminal.
"Due to the economic crisis, PT Rodial stated that it could appropriate the land but withdrew from the development project. The land also has many problems (with residents)," he said.
Asked about PT Nusuno's plan to sue the administration for failing to buy the land, Sutiyoso said it would be ready to face any legal action.
"However, we have no connection with the company (PT Nusuno). Our dealings are with PT Rodial," he argued.
Asked about the possibility that the City Council would reject Perumnas's land, Sutiyoso said that the council should have adequate reasons.
Three land sites for the development of the bus terminal have been debated over by officials of the city administration and members of the City Council. One belongs to Perumnas and the others belong to PT Asco and PT Nusuno.
The decree No. 1272/1990 designates about 60 hectares of land, which is under the "authority" of PT Asco and PT Nusuno, as the site for the bus terminal. And because the land had to be vacated, owners were not allowed to build any structures on it.
Councillor Maringan Pangaribuan of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle said the administration had earlier planned to build the terminal on Asco's land, which was reportedly controlled by city secretary Fauzi Bowo's father-in-law Asmawi Manaf.
However, Maringan said since Asco's land certificate was incomplete, the administration proposed to build the terminal on Perumnas' land.
"Why don't we choose Nusuno's land, the documents of which are complete? We could face a lawsuit if we just revoke the decree," said Maringan who is a member of the council's commission D for development affairs.
Last week, several councillors were invited by Nusuno's president Cipto Sulistio to inspect the land.
Maringan argued that the council refused to approve Perumnas's land because it was still a swamp area, which would need an additional Rp 12 billion (US$1.3 million) in funding to redevelop it before being used as the site for the bus terminal.
"The project would also take longer, as the reclamation would take three years," he said.
He suspected corruption may be involved in the allotment of Perumnas' land site.
The 2001 city budget allocated Rp 40 billion for the land appropriation for the terminal, which was estimated to cost about Rp 200 billion to construct.
Meanwhile, city secretary Fauzi Bowo, denied on Monday that he had any connection with PT Asco.
"Who told you that I have any connection with PT Asco. I'd better just ignore that comment," Fauzi said emotionally.
Fauzi said his office would process the new gubernatorial decree shortly, on the Pulo Gebang terminal after a review on the matter was completed. Fauzi said that the public needed to know about the city's decision on the terminal.
"The decision should be made quickly since people need it badly. We can no longer rely on the overcrowded Pulo Gadung terminal," Fauzi told reporters. (jun)