Anies Baswedan Demands Monas Revitalization be Completed Soon

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan demanded that the revitalization of the National Monument or Monas in Central Jakarta be completed before the capital city’s 493rd anniversary on June 22, 2020. 

The Monas management unit spokesman, Irfal Guci, said the project contractor pledged to finish it before the anniversary date

 “They must complete [the project] before Jakarta's anniversary, but I don’t know whether it can be done or not,” said Irfal to Tempo on Wednesday, June 17. “That’s Pak Governor’s wish.”

Irfal admitted that the project has not been completely done yet as there are unfinished aspects, including water management. “What’s certain is that there is no project handover with us (Monas management) yet,” he added.

As previously reported, Jakarta administration appointed PT Bahana Prima Nusantara as the tender winner of Monas revitalization project that has been started since November 12, 2019. The contract noted that the government gave 50 days for the project completion.

However, Bahana Prima had only achieved 75-percent work by the deadline on December 31, 2019. Thus, Jakarta extended the deadline until February 2020. The project is valued at Rp71 billion.

The Monas revitalization project had caused controversy after many trees in the area were cut down. Environmental activists had even staged rallies in front of the City Hall demanding it to be halted.

This project was stopped on January 24, 2020, as the Jakarta government had not yet received approval from the Steering Committee of the State Secretariat Ministry. However, the permit was then issued.

Read: Monas Reopening Depends on PSBB Evaluation Results: Management

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