Bekasi Mayor Welcomes Ridwan Kamil`s Plan to Revitalize River

TEMPO.CO, Bekasi - Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi expressed his respect to the newly sworn West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil who planned to revitalize Kalimalang River, Bekasi.

Days after his inauguration, Ridwan Kamil–commonly called Kang Emil– made a breakthrough to revamp Kalimalang River as the Cheonggyecheon in Seoul. “Such a help of recreation spot must be grateful,” said Rahmat on Sunday, September 16.

According to Rahmat, the government must begin to concern Bekasi City considering the city had contributed high vehicle tax to West Java amounted to Rp1.5 trillion per year.

“We don’t need a funding, but a real program,” Rahmat said.

Moreover, Rahmat added, Bekasi City is the gate of West Java to the capital city Jakarta. Thus, a synergy between regional administration and West Java was required for the development.

“Please make it into a realization, a recreation place for the public,” he said.

Rahmat mentioned several points of Kalimalang River had been renovated as tourist spots, such as before the Bekasi Legislative Council (DPRD) building, near Bekasi Dam, and before the Metropolitan Mall.

Ridwan Kamil, the newly sworn West Java Governor, attempted to revitalize Kalimalang River following President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo’s call for the city’s river as the Cheonggyecheon River in Seoul. Through his twitter account, Ridwan Kamil posted his photograph standing on the edge of Kalimalang river, Jl. Chairil Anwar, East Bekasi.

ADI WARSONO