Tycoons to be honored for donations: Minister
Tycoons to be honored for donations: Minister
JAKARTA (JP): The names of 23 prominent business tycoons will
be engraved on a plaque which will be unveiled by President
Soeharto in March when he dedicates a low-cost housing complex in
Bidaracina, Jatinegara, East Jakarta.
The engraving of the names is an expression of gratitude for
the tycoons' donations, said Minister of Social Services Inten
Suweno while she was inspecting the buildings on Friday.
The 23 entrepreneurs include Sudono Salim, Mohammad (Bob)
Hasan, Prayogo Pangestu and Sudwikatmono, Antara reported.
The moguls donated Rp 12.5 billion (US$6.2 million) to finance
the slum area improvement project in December last year. The
donation was handed over to the city authorities at the ceremony
commemorating of the Social Solidarity Day last month.
Rp 8 billion of the amount has been used to build the
apartments while the balance will be used to improve slum areas
in other parts of the city.
The Bidaracina apartments will be occupied by squatters who
are currently living in shanty houses along 800 meters of the
Ciliwung River bank in the area.
Three buildings of the apartment complex will be dedicated in
March, while the complex's four other buildings will be completed
in July. Altogether, the complex will contain 288 housing units.
During the inspection, Minister Inten was accompanied by the
head of the city office of housing affairs, Ongki Sukasah, and
Subronto Laras, who represents the Salim group of companies.
The city authorities have estimated that Rp 13.6 trillion
($6.2 billion) would be needed to improve worst slum areas alone.
Recent data shows that one third of inner Jakarta's 8.5
million residents still live in poverty.
The authorities have said that it will take between 15 and 20
years to improve all of the city's slum areas.
Jakarta has at least 4,500 hectares of slums and, with the
unabated influx of rural people, the situation is expected to
worsen.
Annual population growth for Jakarta stands at 3.52 percent.
In 2005 the city's population is expected to reach nearly 15
million. (tis)