New Maritime Minister to Resolve Matters Surrounding Jakarta Reclamation Project
Jakarta. Newly appointed Coordinating Maritime Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan is determined to find a solution to matters surrounding the reclamation project off the north coast of Jakarta, which has led to a spat between central government officials and the capital's governor, Luhut said on Friday (29/07).
The development project, first initiated in 1995 during the rule of President Suharto, will see the construction of 17 artificial islands for residential and commercial purposes.
However, construction of one of the islands has recently been permanently halted by the government. The government has also provisionally halted the development of 14 others, while that of the remaining two islands have proceeded.
"[I believe that] if we move transparently and follow existing regulations, there will certainly be a solution," Luhut, who replaced former coordinating maritime minister Rizal Ramli, said.
During his time in office, Rizal said the government's move to halt construction was based on findings that parts of the project had caused environmental degradation and disrupted shipping activities and the flow of electrical cables and gas pipelines.
However Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, who staunchly defended the reclamation project, lashed out by saying that the reasons are nonsense.
"I will go there personally next week to check [the project's] status first and then find out what the noise is all about," Luhut said.
Deliberations of the draft bylaws for the North Jakarta reclamation project was also halted following allegations of graft, with a number of city councilors and developers being named bribery suspects.
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