We have building license: Mosque

JAKARTA: The Nurul Hidayah Al Bahar Foundation, the management of the mosque of which the minaret collapsed recently, denied allegations that it did not have a building license for the construction of the Baiturrahman Mosque in Koja, North Jakarta.

Foundation spokesman Subairi was quoted by Tempointeraktif on Saturday as saying that the North Jakarta Spiritual, Mental and Social Welfare Guidance Office had already given the management permission to build the mosque.

He said that the foundation did not view a formal building permit was needed as the construction was intended for a religious building and that it was more important for the foundation to have the support of the North Jakarta Mental, Spiritual and Social Welfare Guidance Office, as well as the Indonesian Ulema Council.

Regarding the collapse of the 50-meter minaret on Dec. 21 in which several workers were killed, Subairi said that it was purely an accident. --JP