Ulemas threaten to close down dump

TANGERANG: At least 100 ulemas from several districts in Tangerang warned the regental administration that they would close down the local dump if the planned haj dormitory was not built in Sepatan district.

"Banten Governor Djoko Munandar chose Sepatan as the location for the haj dormitory on July 28," said Nuryadi on Thursday while leading the protest toward the administration's offices.

"If the Banten and Tangerang administrations insist on building the dormitory in Curug district, we will close down the dump site," he said.

The Tangerang administration moved the construction from Sepatan to Curug, because developer PT Lippo Karawaci had provided a 12-hectare plot of land there.

Nuryadi had led the ulemas to the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Wednesday, but failed to meet minister Said Agiel Munawar.

"The minister's assistant (Muslim Aulani) promised to support the construction of the dormitory in Sepatan," he claimed. -- JP