Monas Revitalization Marches On Despite Controversy

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The much-debated Monas revitalization project is likely to continue despite requests from the Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) to temporarily cease the project due to the lack of approval from the State Secretariat’s Office. 

As Tempo observed the location on Thursday, January 23, construction workers can be seen continuing their activities as usual to complete the project that is worth Rp64 billion.

Workers continue to pour concrete and construction poles in the revitalized area of the National Monument (Monas). There were also two heavy pieces of machinery stationed in the area that sits near the South Merdeka Street. 

The Jakarta Legislative Council’s commission B highlighted this project in a meeting on Wednesday. DPRD's commission D Speaker, Ida Mahmuda, revealed that the revitalization project of the National Monument has yet been approved by the central government, mainly the State Secretariat.

According to the President’s Regulation No.25/1995, approval from the State Secretariat must be obtained prior to construction or revitalization projects involving national heritage sites. 

The Monas revitalization project is also under scrutiny after the headquarters of the project’s contractor, PT Bahana Prima Nusantara, is revealed to be located in a building that is a co-working space in East Jakarta, while another address referring to the contractor is equally shady. 

Jakarta Head of Land and Spatial Planning Agency, Heru Hermanto, said that the project will consider the DPRD Speaker’s recommendation. “We will halt the project if it needs to. Especially if we have to be equipped with the approval from the State Secretariat’s Office,” said Heru.

M YUSUF MANURUNG