TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Governor of Jakarta, Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, said that floods that inundated several spots across the capital last week on Friday, January 23, 2015, is caused by sabotage.

"When heavy downpours came a couple of days before Friday, no areas experienced significant flooding. That said, how come floods were reported across 36 areas when the rains returned on Friday? I suspect that sabotage is involved," said Ahok in Jakarta on Monday, January 26, 2015.

"I know that Katulampa is secure. Sea levels were reported to be normal, and our flood pumps were functioning normally. CCTV recordings also showed that our floodgates were not out of the ordinary," explained Ahok.

After further investigation, said Ahok, the reason for the inundation experienced by North Jakarta was a breached dyke at Sunter Creek near Artha Gading Mall, which was deliberately destroyed by contractors who wanted a shortcut for their heavy machineries to pass.

"This is clearly an act of sabotage. They had reasoned that the dyke was deliberately breached to allow heavy machineries to enter the site - where they are currently dredging the waterway," said Ahok.

According to Ahok, the dredging of Sunter Creek is being done under the supervision of the Ciliwung-Cisadane River Agency under the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing. As such, Ahok is questioning the legality of the decision to breach the dyke, because such action needs to be approved and reviewed by several institutions before it could be carried out.

I will report the incident to the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing to let them know that their contractor is not credible," finished Ahok.

ANTARANEWS