Windows break at newly renovated history museum

Windows break at newly renovated history museum

JAKARTA (JP): New damage has been discovered at the Jakarta
History Museum on Jl. Taman Fatahillah in West Jakarta, two
months after the building's Rp 2.2 billion (US$314,300)
renovation project was completed.

Three of the museum's windows, two in the front of the
building and one in the rear, are broken and there has been no
apparent effort to repair them.

Museum employees, who spoke on the condition of anonymity,
said on Wednesday the glass from the three windows in the 200-
year-old building fell to the ground and shattered during strong
winds last week.

"Thank God the falling glass did not injure anybody," one of
the employees said.

He said the construction company which did the renovation
work, PT Irma Graha, did not comply with the job and material
specifications issued by the City Museum and Restoration Agency.
These specifications stated that hardwood be used for the
windows.

"The company used cheaper materials instead. The worst part is
that the workers did not properly install the windows, so they
were easily damaged by the strong winds," he said while
displaying the damaged windows.

He said for the time being the museum's management would keep
all windows shut to avoid similar incidents.

The renovation of the former city hall, which was constructed
in the center of Batavia -- as Jakarta once was known -- during
the Dutch colonial period, was completed last August.

City Museum and Restoration Agency head Robert Silalahi,
however, said the recent renovation did not include the
installment of new windows.

"The renovation of several old windows was part of the
renovation project which took place two years ago. The latest
renovation project, which took place during my tenure here, was
only to work on the museum's electric wiring and construct a
cafe," he said.

Silalahi said it was possible the construction company ignored
the specifications issued for the project.

However, he said he ordered the company to repair the broken
windows immediately. (ind)