TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The initial plan to construct a pedestrian bridge over Jakarta’s Sudirman street was criticized by the Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) that questioned its urgency, especially considering the plan involves erecting a monument dedicated for fallen healthcare workers throughout the pandemic.

DPRD Jakarta speaker for the development commission, Ida Mahmudah, questioned the construction’s motive amidst an ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

“The [monument integrated with] Sudirman pedestrian overpass has no urgency. Even if the media states that it’s for a monument for healthcare workers,” said Ida in a hearing with the city's Bina Marga agency on February 23.

During the meeting, Ida asked the Jakarta administration to be wiser in producing future plans that involve the use of regional funds and. She suggested that it would be better for the funds to be allocated for the livelihood of the children left behind by the fallen healthcare workers due to Covid-19.

“To honor them does not have to take a physical form but can be a deposit for their children. Let there be no more illogical debates,” said the PDIP politician.

Bina Marga initially said that the plan to build the monument was a peripheral idea for the ‘revitalization’ of the Sudirman pedestrian overpass that already needs to be fixed. They claimed that the bridge is currently deteriorating due to age and that they will use funds outside of regional funds.

Read: Anies Baswedan and Private Funds for Jakarta's Modern Footbridges

IMAM HAMDI